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02/09/2014 12:25
08.08.14 13:40
WELCOME
Editor Jim Martin
Group Managing Editor Marie Brewis
Art Director Mandie Johnson
Production Editor Rob Woodcock
Multimedia Editor Dominik Tomaszewski
Consumer Tech Editor Chris Martin
Senior Staff Writer Ashleigh Allsopp
Technical Editor Andrew Harrison
Associate Online Editor David Price
Associate Editor Karen Haslam
Associate Editor Neil Bennett
Forum Editor Peter Thomas
Editor-In-Chief Matt Egan
jim_martin@idg.co.uk
marie_brewis@idg.co.uk
mandie_johnson@idg.co.uk
rob_grant@idg.co.uk
dominik_tomaszewski@idg.co.uk
chris_martin@idg.co.uk
ashleigh_allsopp@idg.co.uk
reviews@idg.co.uk
david_price@idg.co.uk
karen_haslam@idg.co.uk
neil_bennett@idg.co.uk
moderator@idg.co.uk
matt_egan@idg.co.uk
Contributors
Mike Bedford, Michael Burns, Alex Campbell, Martyn Casserly, Martyn Clayden,
Stephen Dean, Cliff Joseph, Aryeh Klien, Tim McVeigh, Steve May, Alec Meer, Paul
Monckton, Robin Morris, Jared Newman, Mikael Rickns, Agam Shah, Lisa Snider,
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JIM
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03/09/2014 17:25
CONTENTS
NEWS & ANALYSIS
6
72
17 Open source
18 ARM core wars
19 Heartbleed reveals flaws
20 Motorola is back
22 Microsoft to speed up Bing
64
72
80
87
90
93
96
101
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51
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54
56
57
BUSINESS
61
62
62
63
WIRELESS ROUTERS
74
74
75
75
76
76
34
04/09/2014 14:32
Contents
64
BACK TO SCHOOL
80
HOW TO
Get help with computer problems and
learn how to improve your PC setup.
104 Helproom
109 Create a Wi-Fi hotspot
87
101
TEST
ON THE COVER
CENTRE
72
TOP 5 CHARTS:
BUYERS GUIDE
127
128
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130
131
132
133
134
135
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139
140
141
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143
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Ultraportable laptops
Sub-500 laptops
501-1,000 laptops
1,001+ laptops
Tablets
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All-in-one PCs
Office PCs
Family PCs
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64
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87
04/09/2014 14:25
NEWS
01/09/2014 17:48
News
twitter.com/pcadvisor
pinterest.com/pcadvisor
facebook.com/pcadvisor
plus.google.com/+PCAdvisor
mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk
youtube.com/pcadvisor
04/09/2014 12:57
News
Mac vs PC returns in
Microsofts Surface
Pro 3 vs MacBook
Air advert
Microsoft has resurrected the
age old Mac vs PC debate in its
new advert for the Surface Pro
3. Just like it did at the launch
event for the Windows 8 tablet,
the tech giant has pitted the
new Surface Pro 3 against
Apples MacBook Air laptop.
With the tag line The tablet
that can replace your laptop,
the commercial shows off the
benefits of the Surface.
MORE: tinyurl.com/Leu763p
01/09/2014 17:49
02/09/2014 12:40
NEWSSECURITY
MARTYN
CASSERLY
01/09/2014 17:39
News: Security
Government rushes
through surveillance laws
The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers (DRIP) bill was made law in July, but its raised questions
about the governments motives and methods. We look at what the bill is and why its such an issue
MARTYN
CASSERLY
01/09/2014 17:39
NEWSSECURITY
MICHAEL
BURNS
Shooting stars
BBC used the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to trial 4K, augmented video and the Oculus Rift
04/09/2014 12:45
News: Viewpoint
Personal profile
Google is an advertising business. It builds
up an anonymised picture of users based
on their use of Google tools from search
to Gmail to calendar to Google+. Any time
you use a Google service, that data is being
put to use to increase ad sales. And with
Android, it ties in all those things with
personal data such as purchase history.
It doesnt sell that data to advertisers
that would be a bad business decision.
If Google gave away its data, it would
lose its competitive advantage. But it
does rent this information, in the sense
that advertisers can target Google ads
at users based on all of this data.
MATT EGAN
03/09/2014 17:36
News: Viewpoint
MATT EGAN
04/09/2014 13:03
News: Viewpoint
CHRIS MARTIN
03/09/2014 17:03
News: Viewpoint
ANDREW
HARRISON
01/09/2014 17:55
News: Viewpoint
DAVID PRICE
MACWORLD UK
Open source
In the technology industry, everybody steals. And thats a good thing, says David Price
01/09/2014 17:57
NEWSANALYSIS
03/09/2014 17:20
News: Analysis
Heartbleed highlights memory and cache architecture weaknesses, reveals Agam Shah
Weak link
The weak link is the fixed memory addresses
of cache. Attackers can recreate the use of
cache by a victim and map bits of keys to
specific parts of memory used. Attackers
can then extract data from the tracked
memory addresses to reconstruct keys.
Because theres a fixed memory
address... the attacker can look backwards
and figure out which memory addresses the
victim used, Lee explained. Then he can
devise the whole key.
Attackers will be able to read out the
crown jewel of primary keys the symmetric
keys used for encryption and the private keys
that are used for identity in the digital world
that you should protect, she added.
Its difficult to launch software attacks on
hardware, but side-channel attacks can be
dangerous. An exposed system could be left
vulnerable by other bugs like Heartbleed.
If the attacker can attack fixed systems, its
easier. Once he finds a path, he can attack
80 percent of the system and... when he
comes back, he can find the same path in.
To mitigate such attacks, Lee and
researchers at Princeton have reconstructed
03/09/2014 17:20
News: Analysis
03/09/2014 17:28
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138
Digital mag 221.indd 138
8/29/2014
2:56:09 12:39
PM
02/09/2014
News: Analysis
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04/09/2014 12:23
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News Analysis 4.indd 25 1
29.08.2014
04/09/2014 16:00:57
12:40
NEWPRODUCTS
tinyurl.com/gadgetspca
Nocs NS2
Bookshelf speakers
Providing a splash of colour to your hi-fi
setup are these NS2 bookshelf speakers
from Nocs. You can stream music from
almost any device with support for
Bluetooth, AirPlay and Spotify Connect.
The speakers have an 80W power output
and 3in Kevlar woofers.
349 inc VAT
eu.nocs.se
22/08/2014 12:05
CHRIS
MARTIN
22/08/2014 12:05
Asus ZenFone
Smartphone
Announced back in January at CES, Asus has
decided to bring its budget ZenFone range to
the UK. There are three different sizes available
ranging from 4- to 6in. All come with Intel Atom
processors (apart from the 4G model) and
removable rear covers in various colours.
99 inc VAT
asus.com/uk
22/08/2014 12:05
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138 Digital mag 221.indd 138
02/09/2014 12:38
Acer Chromebook 13
Laptop
Acers new Chromebook 13 is the first
to feature an nVidia Tegra K1 quad-core
processor, clocked at 2.1GHz. The firm
claims its one of the thinnest Chrome
operating system laptops around at
18mm, and will provide an impressive
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$279 (167)
acer.co.uk
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Smartwatch
Not all smartwatches have a huge touchscreen
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22/08/2014 12:05
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138 Digital mag 221.indd 138
02/09/2014 12:39
REVIEWS
LAPTOP
toshiba.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/o9p99q4
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
The Toshiba Satellite S70 provides
strong all-round performance
and will make a good desktopreplacement system for both home
and office use. However, the screen
is below par for a laptop in this
price range, and thats an obvious
weakness in a laptop thats designed
for entertainment. J Cliff Joseph
32 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews November 2014
03/09/2014 16:54
Reviews:
LAPTOP
chillblast.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/q8u7cup
System requirements
Chillblast Helix
Gaming laptops are often built like
tanks, but when nVidia unveiled
its GTX 800M series of graphics
processors earlier this year, it
promised that the power-efficient
chips would make it possible
to develop a new generation of
slimmer, lighter gaming laptops.
Its taken a while for these new
laptops to surface, but following
our review of Gigabytes impressive
P35W v2 (tinyurl.com/o9wuf8s),
we now have another relatively
sleek gaming laptop in the form of
the 17in Chillblast Helix.
The 2.66kg laptop is a little
heavier than its Gigabyte rival
(2.5kg), and you certainly wont want
to carry it around in a backpack all
day. Even so, its only slightly heavier
than many 15in Windows laptops,
and its 21.8mm chassis makes it
easy to pick up and carry.
The slimline design does mean
that Chillblast has jettisoned the
DVD drive, so youll need to find
a USB drive if youre installing
games from optical disc.
The chassis is nice and sturdy,
and provides good support for the
17.3in screen. We also like the feel
of the keyboard, which has a nice,
firm action on the keys although
moving the Windows key over to
the right of the Space bar while
common to gaming laptops still
feels odd to us and took a little
while to get used to.
Connectivity is good, with
four USB 3.0 ports, and two Mini
DisplayPort interfaces along with
HDMI for connecting to a larger
display. There are also separate
ports for headphone, microphone
and external speakers, although the
internal speakers provide plenty of
volume and even a respectable bass
seconds
when using
the Windows 8
fast-start option, and to hit a decent
score of 5710 points in the PCMark
7 system benchmark test. Weve
seen higher scores many gaming
laptops exceed 6000 points with
that particular benchmark but only
from more expensive laptops using
larger, dedicated solid-state drives.
Its scores of 3014 and 3400
points in the Home and Work suites
of PCMark 8 also suggest that
the Chillblast Helix is more than
capable of handling a wide range
of demanding tasks.
But of course, its gaming
performance that really counts here.
And while the GTX 870M used by the
Helix isnt top-of-the-range, it still
provides speeds that will satisfy all
but the most hard-core gamers.
It breezed to 142fps when
running our Stalker: Call of Pripyat
casual gaming test at native
1920x1080 resolution.
We then tried the more
demanding Batman: Arkham City.
That game defaults to 1600x900
resolution with DirectX 11 turned
off, which produced a smooth 55fps,
but turning DX11 on and stepping
up to 1920x1080 with all graphics
settings on High only caused that
score to dip slightly to 50fps.
Verdict
The Helix isnt perfect, and its
screen and battery life are adequate
rather than impressive. However,
it manages to provide high-end
performance at a competitive
mid-range price, and will appeal
to gamers who want a laptop that
wont break the bank or their
back. J Cliff Joseph
03/09/2014 16:54
Reviews
DESKTOP COMPUTER
apple.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/mLzjwpy
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Processor
The new 1.4GHz iMac represents
something of a departure in its
choice of processor. Since the
eye-catching redesign of late-2012
all iMacs came with quad-core
CPUs running at closer to 3GHz.
The 1.4GHz processor used here is
the same chip that powers Apples
current MacBook Air, enabling
very low power consumption and
minimal heat output.
In our test of raw processor
performance using Geekbench 3, the
new iMac unsurprisingly returned
similar results to those mid-2014
MacBook Air models. Its fractionally
faster, though, with 2838 points
for a single-core and 5464 points
for multi-core operation. The 11in
MacBook Air scored 2762 and 5392
points respectively, giving the
iMac an insignificant advantage
of around two percent.
In the Cinebench R11.5 test of
single- and multi-core performance,
the 2014 iMac scored the same as
Graphics
When Apple last revised its iMac
range in September 2013, the
upgrade to Haswell chips also saw
the removal of a separate nVidia
graphics processor, to rely on the
increasingly capable Intel integrated
graphics built into the main CPU.
Also known as Iris Pro, the Intel HD
Graphics 5200 graphics processor
was the same as that found in the
entry-level 15in MacBook Pro with
Retina display. For gameplay, this
was a step up from the discrete
nVidia GeForce 650M used before.
However, with the new low-price
iMac we find graphics performance
has been reduced. Its now powered
by the same Intel HD Graphics 5000
Display
Apart from the slow hard disk, the
new budget iMac can be seen as
a MacBook Air thats taken root
to the desk, and one fitted with a
03/09/2014 16:54
Reviews:
Storage
Our review unit included two drives,
combined together in software by
OS Xs Core Storage technology to
create what Apple calls a Fusion
Drive. Here this comprised a
128GB SanDisk SSD attached by
PCIe, and a 1TB Hitachi Travelstar
5K1000 SATA disk.
To get an idea of how the new
budget iMac performs with both its
Fusion Drive and with a standard
hard drive only, we partitioned the
internal drive and cloned the entire
operating system to the second
partition. The first original partition
benefited from the flash-drive
acceleration, while the second
partition worked like a typical
hard disk-only system.
In the Windows world especially,
boot times are bandied around as
sign of computer performance. For
Windows PCs that need frequent
rebooting, we can see why needless
waiting here is frustrating, even if
its almost a non-issue for Apple Mac
computers: they recover from sleep
Other features
The Wi-Fi system in the new budget
iMac appears to be the same as
used in 2013s iMac upgrade, and is
therefore capable of connecting to
the latest 802.11ac routers. Unlike
that found in the MacBook Air,
though, this wireless configuration
is the superior three-stream
MIMO (in other words, with three
antennas) rather than just two, so
is capable of better wireless range
and throughput than the Air.
Verdict
We recommend specifying
a Fusion Drive when
purchasing the new iMac.
If you have the 1,099
budget for this model, do
not be tempted to plump
instead for the cheaper
21.5in iMac with faster
2.7GHz Intel Core i5
quad-core processor
that system will be
similarly hamstrung by
the slow hard disk that
comes as standard.
J Andrew Harrison
04/09/2014 10:56
Reviews
LAPTOP
toshiba.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/Ln2euoo
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
The dazzling 4K display of the
P50T-B-10K is genuinely in a class
of its own, and will certainly appeal
to professional photographers and
video-editors. It may look good value
when compared to rivals such as
Apples Retina MacBook Pro, but its
poor battery life means it will rarely
leave the office, while professional
users will likely be frustrated by
Windows programs that dont work
correctly with the 3840x2160
resolution display. J Stephen Dean
03/09/2014 16:42
Reviews
PHABLET
asus.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/ojvq4mc
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
For anyone looking for a 7in tablet
that can make phone calls, the
Asus Fonepad 7 LTE is worth a look,
though, were not convinced anyone
would want to. J Ashleigh Allsopp
03/09/2014 16:42
Reviews
LAPTOP
Contact
n
apple.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/ngccqe3
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Storage
As the entry-level 13in Retina
MacBook Pro, our review laptop
has the smallest storage capacity
of 128GB from its PCIe-attached
internal flash drive. (The other
models in the line-up offer 256and 512GB.) In our test sample this
03/09/2014 16:42
Reviews
Battery life
Apple claims that its 13in Retina
MacBook Pros should last for nine
hours between charges. This is
more than the eight hours offered
by the 15in version, and the seven
hours of the non-Retina model.
When we tested 2013s best
13in model with 2.6GHz processor,
we recorded a battery life of nine
hours, 55 minutes in our standard
looped-video wireless test. This
year, it lasted 10 hours, seven
minutes result, using the calibrated
120cd/m2 display setting.
According to our colleagues
at Macworld Labs, the 2.6GHz
13in model managed 10 hours, two
minutes, while the 13in 2.8GHz
Verdict
Looking at this 2014 revision of
the 13in Retina MacBook Pro,
its difficult to find any fault. The
last upgrade in October 2013
introduced the world to the best
all-round compact laptop weve
tested and enjoyed using, with its
11ac wireless, extended battery life
and flawless build quality. With
this model, youre getting the
performance of last years best
off-the-shelf model, for an entrylevel price thats also 100 less
than its predecessor. J Karen
Haslam and Andrew Harrison
03/09/2014 16:42
Reviews
LAPTOP
Contact
n
apple.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/o8k7843
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
04/09/2014 11:21
Reviews
Storage
The top-of-the-range 15in model,
tested here, retains its dual graphics
card setup with the same nVidia
GeForce GT 750M discrete graphics
processor in conjunction with Intel
Iris Pro Graphics. Only one graphics
card is used at a time, rather than
both being used at the same time as
is the case with the Mac Pro.
Game players should find the
15in MacBook Pro just as capable as
before. In Batman: Arkham City our
review unit averaged a framerate of
61fps when set to 1280x800-pixel
resolution, for both Medium and
High detail settings.
In Tomb Raider (2013) both
generations could play with the
same average framerate when set
to 1440x900, and Normal and High
detail 33- and 31fps respectively.
Incidentally, while these
framerates are good enough for
most players, we found the game
could play almost 50 percent faster
when Use Legacy OpenGL was
selected in the games settings. With
the same resolution and settings, it
recorded up to a 46fps average, and
crucially with a minimum framerate
that never dropped below 34fps.
We dont have quantitative
measurements of the display
quality of the late-2013 15in
MacBook Pro, but it would seem
that the same panel is in use. In
our example, it was a Samsung LCD
(LSN154YL01-A01), although weve
also seen LG/Philips in some models.
In our tests with a Datacolor
Spyder4Elite colorimeter, we found
this panel to have 96 percent
coverage of the sRGB colour
gamut, and 80 percent of the more
challenging Adobe RGB gamut.
Its contrast ratio in a test was
680:1 when set to 50 percent
brightness (corresponding to
62cd/m2), 720:1 at 75 percent
Battery life
Apple says that the battery life is
eight hours less than the nine
hours offered by the 13in option.
We ran our usual battery
rundown test, looping an MPEG4 film (1920x1080, 30fps) played
wirelessly from a NAS drive.
Consistent screen brightness
is paramount since the display
luminance level can greatly alter
overall runtime. Weve recently
updated our screen calibration
technique and can now match
screen brightness to within around
one percent of the target reference
level of 120cd/m2. Our test unit last
for seven hours, 57 minutes before
going into its sleep state.
When we ran the same test
on a late-2013 model, with nVidia
graphics automatically switched
to Intel Iris Pro under battery test
conditions, it lasted seven hours,
46 minutes, although we cant
be confident of screen reference
brightness being so exactly matched.
When our colleagues at Macworld
Labs ran their battery tests the
results were less positive. They
tested the battery life by looping a
Verdict
The price drops are welcome,
especially at the top-of-the-range
where the 15in MacBook Pro with
Retina display is now 200 cheaper.
At 1,999, its still pricy, though. J
Karen Haslam and Andrew Harrison
October 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 41
03/09/2014 16:42
Reviews
SMARTPHONE
89 inc VAT
Contact
n
zte.com.cn/en
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/ku4o74h
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
ZTE Blade L2
The Blade L2 is the latest superbudget smartphone from Chinese
phone maker ZTE. At 89, its closest
rival is the same-price Motorola
Moto E (tinyurl.com/moj7L7e), a
4.3in qHD-screen Android KitKat
phone with a dual-core processor.
This phones faster than Motorolas
cheapest handset, but speed isnt
everything in the highly competitive
smartphone market.
Neither, of course, are looks,
although they do help. Whereas
the Moto E is incredibly well built,
just a slightly chunkier version of
its best-selling pebble-design Moto
G (tinyurl.com/q5Ln5xq), the Blade
L2 caused us problems even before
we turned it on.
The rear cover is removable,
allowing you to access the SIM and
microSDXC slots we say removable,
it felt like it had been superglued
on. Once youve prised off the cover
once, its much easier to remove, but
this isnt necessarily a good thing.
With the 2000mAh battery inside
a non-removable model theres no
need to get under the cover, yet
youre left with a phone whose
chassis now creaks under pressure.
Its not all bad. The all-white
ZTE doesnt suffer the usual telltale budget belly, measuring just
8.95x142.5x72.2mm. Its not too
heavy either, at just 130g. And
despite the now-creaky chassis,
the Blade L2 is fairly sturdy, with
nothing rattling inside.
Its plastic, sure, and with a silver
plastic trim that is rather obviously
painted plastic rather than chrome
bling. But this is a ridiculously cheap
smartphone, which feels good in the
hand despite its large 5in screen
and its ports and buttons lie about
the chassis exactly as youd expect.
The speaker might have been betterpositioned, of course, not only on
the rear but falling directly under
the palm of your hand.
Turning our attention to whats
on the inside things start to look
up for the Blade L2. A quad-core
processor and 1GB of RAM at 89 is
very good, even if this MediaTek chip
is clocked at only 1.3GHz. We found it
faster than the Moto Es 1.2GHz dualcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
and 1GB of RAM combo. Significantly
faster, in fact: in GeekBench 3s
multi-core test, the ZTE scored
Verdict
The Blade L2 has a lot to offer at
just 89, with a quad-core processor,
a large screen and support for
microSDXC. But while it may be
faster than the Motorola Moto E,
in many respects the ZTE is the
inferior phone and even gets shown
up by the significantly cheaper ZTE
Kis 3. J Marie Brewis
03/09/2014 16:19
Reviews
LCD TV
samsung.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/mrnyotc
System requirements
Samsung UE40H640
When you consider the specs
of this attractively priced 40in
flatscreen TV, you might struggle
to think of reasons to spend
more. This midrange model
packs a mighty punch with scads
of network functionality, above
average image quality and a fair
smattering of gimmicky nonsense.
Also available in 32, 48,
55 and 65in screen sizes (as
the UE32H6400, UE48H6400,
UE55H6400 and UE65H6400
respectively), this 6Series set boasts
a fashionable design with traditional
Samsung translucent edging and
swivelling Xstyle pedestal.
Theres no shortage of
connection ports either, with a
quartet of HDMI (one of which is
ARC compliant), SCART, component/
composite inputs, ethernet and a
trio of USB ports. Theres an optical
digital audio output for use with
soundbars. WiFi is integrated.
Remotes
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
Overall, the Samsung UE40H640
should be considered a great value
netconnected flatscreen television.
It boasts engaging 1080p image
quality, working well with both sport
and movie content, offers a wide
variety of connected functionality
and generally looks the business. We
like it a lot. J Steve May
03/09/2014 16:19
Reviews
GRAPHICS CARD
65 inc VAT
Contact
n
asus.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/p87j7nh
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
The Radeon R7 250 is a quiet and
cool-running card. But while it
should be a significant buy over
the underpowered entry-level 240,
its hard to recommend it while
the AMD Radeon HD 7770 remains
available to buy for another 20 or
less. That latter card will probably
be falling from the market before
long. Until it does, though, its a
much better deal overall than the
250. J Robin Morris
Benchmark scores
Stalker: Call of Pripyat (fps)1
68.1/63.4
BattleForge (fps)1
60.3/56.6
Bioshock (fps)1
70.3/57.7
1680x1050/1920x1200
03/09/2014 16:19
Reviews
GRAPHICS CARD
46 inc VAT
Contact
n
xfxforce.com/en-gb
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/Lpychjb
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
This
XFX version
comes with 2GB
of GDDR3 RAM.
Theres also a 1GB
version, costing 5 less. Sapphire
offers its version with 4GB, which
takes the card to the 66 mark.
Frankly, though, we cant imagine
many users needing to push the
240 beyond 2GB, so the 4GB
version seems like overkill.
The core-clock speed goes up to
750MHz on this overclocked card.
Thats actually 20MHz more than
the standard-issue R7 240, although
all these cards already have a Boost
mode that maxes out at 780MHz.
The XFX is slightly behind other
examples on memory-clock speeds,
and its figure of 400MHz (1600MHz
DDR effective) is a notch down on
the 450MHz (1800MHz) offered by
some of the competition.
The 128-bit memory interface
is fairly paltry, and doesnt permit
the 240 to stretch its pins fully.
Combined with the low 1600MHz
clock, the result is a memory
bandwidth of 25.6GB/s. The older
HD 7770 (tinyurl.com/m6dharb) is
similarly hamstrung by its 128bit interface, although stronger
clock speeds do drive it to a better
bandwidth figure of 72GB/s. The
240s 320 stream processors also
struggle against the competition.
Its a diminutive little card, and
theres a low-profile version available
for more confined cases the latter
card suffers from a hideous cooling
system.
Unsurprisingly
given the less than
stellar specification, the card
is quiet, even under load.
We mention the HD 7770
because, while its 20 more
expensive, it is a superior card; and
the R7 250 is around 15 to 20
more expensive. Again, theres a
marked difference in performance.
If 46 is your absolute budget, then
clearly those cards will be out of
bounds. However, it will be worth
the extra if you can find it.
Even at medium and low levels
of quality, the R7 240 struggled
to get much above 40fps in our
tests. Its 43.2- and 37fps in Stalker:
Call of Pripyat (at 1680x1050 and
1920x1200 respectively) are playable
rates, but struggle to compete with
87- and 75.8fps on the HD 7770; or
68.1- and 63.4fps on the R7 250.
Again on BattleForge, the 240
averaged figures of 42.6- and
39.9fps at those resolutions, while
the 7770 managed a much more
emphatic 87- and 75.8fps, and the
R7 250 60.3- and 56.6fps.
Bioshock would hardly be
playable on the 240 at normal
settings, so we dropped it to lowquality settings. Here, the 240
managed respectable figures of
46.3- and 34fps, but thats against
the 7770s 90.1- and 77.6fps.
Verdict
Its hard to recommend the 240.
Its a respectable step up from
onboard graphics. But you can get
significantly improved firepower if
you shop around. J Robin Morris
Benchmark scores
Stalker: Call of Pripyat (fps)1
43.2/37
BattleForge (fps)1
42.6/39.9
Bioshock (fps)1
42.6/39.9
1680x1050/1920x1200
03/09/2014 16:19
Reviews
NAS DRIVE
synology.com/en-uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/Ltdzoej
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Synology DS415play
The DS415play has been designed
to fill a gap in Synologys line-up,
and caters for home users. It has
some useful specifications, starting
with an Intel Atom dual-core CPU
running at 1.6GHz and backed up
by 1GB of DDR3 memory.
The drive includes a hardware
transcoding engine for 1080p video
for streaming video to your TV or
mobile device. However, its worth
pointing out that despite the media
focus of this device its a streaming
device only as there is no HDMI port
for direct connection to a TV, as you
find on more expensive units such
as the QNAP TS-469L or Thecus
N4560. However, a great addition
for Mac users is native support for
external HFS+ formatted drives.
The unit itself is a discrete affair
in brushed black plastic with a shiny
black front panel. The front doesnt
have a hinge like some models, but
is held on by rubber-gripped pegs
and can be easily pulled off. Inside
there are tool-less drive bays, which
are a boon for those intimidated
by screwdrivers you unclip the
bay put your drive in and slide the
bay into the unit. The disks are hot
swappable, so can be removed with
the unit still powered on.
As with all Synology DSM-based
units, setting up and using is a
pleasure. This is one area Synology
plays its trump card, the software
interface. The DSM 5.0 operating
system has an attractive and
intuitive interface.
Performance
To test this unit, we installed two
Seagate 4TB Enterprise Capacity
and two 3TB Enterprise Value disks.
We used CrystalDiskMark (CDM),
ATTO and file copy on Windows 7;
and QuickBench and Blackmagic
Disk Speed Test on OS X Mavericks
(SMB share). All tests were run over
gigabit ethernet, using an Apple
Time Capsule as router.
The
CrystalDiskMark
scores showed 86MB/s
read and 83MB/s write speeds on
sequential transfers, and 36MB/s
read and 86MB/s write on 512kB
transfers. These are respectable
for this benchmark and far higher
than the Synology DS413j (tinyurl.
com/pL8xm8s) we tested in 2013.
ATTO showed even higher
numbers at transfer sizes over
512kB (up to 8191kB) performance
varied between 102- to 111MB/s read
and 80- to 91MB/s write.
To get some real-world figures,
we also copied a 3.47GB video
file from and then back to the
DS415play, and timed the copy. The
copy from this drive to a laptop
(which contained a Samsung EVO
750GB SSD) took 35.6 seconds,
which equates to a read speed of
100MB/s. The copy from the laptop
to the NAS was completed in 48.7
seconds, suggesting an average
speed of 73MB/s write.
For those who are concerned
with 4kB file size performance,
under CDM the DS415play
achieved 0.838MB/s read and
5.19MB/s write. These 4kB numbers
are about what you could expect
from a HDD-based RAID solution.
On OS X, we used the
QuickBench extended test which
consists of transfers from 20- to
100MB; and here the NAS averaged
104MB/s read and 88MB/s write,
which are good scores. Finally we
ran Blackmagic which returned
average write speeds of 83MB/s
and reads of 93MB/s.
Verdict
When you combine the performance,
price and OS, the DS415play could be
a crowd-pleaser for the multimedia
NAS market. J John Taylor
46 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews November 2014
04/09/2014 11:29
Reviews
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
harmonkardon.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/pn9yLtu
System requirements
Bluetooth wireless
speaker; 2x 45mm
drivers; 2x 10W Class D
amplifier; 80Hz to 22kHz
specified frequency
response; 80dB specified
S/N ratio; dual mics;
Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio
inputs; five-hour battery
charge time; Micro-USB
port for charging; USB
battery charger;
carry case; 29.6Wh
lithium-ion battery;
147x147x46.5mm; 750g
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Audio quality
For its mid-range price point, the
sound quality of the Esquire is just
satisfactory. Its by no means
Verdict
The Harmon Kardon Esquire delivers
on style and build quality, with
its premium look and feel. It also
provides impressive battery life
and additional features like NFC
pairing, controls and hands-free
calls. Unfortunately, the sound
quality doesnt live up to the
169 price tag. J Chris Martin
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 47
03/09/2014 15:48
Reviews
20 inc VAT
Contact
n
groupgear.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/Lffrf49
System requirements
Standard UK two-gang
socket faceplate; requires
25mm depth wall box; 2x
USB charging ports;
output: 5V, 2A shared
between ports
attempt to
draw more than 2A,
the transformer will trip to
protect itself - and your devices.
You can use the mains sockets
for any 13A devices, but you can, of
course, connect two USB chargers
for charging up to four devices from
this charging plate.
Verdict
Its a wonder that so few companies
have launched similar products:
USB charging has been standard for
years now. Were sure competition
will appear, but for now, the Group
Gear USB charging plate is a good
deal at 20. J Jim Martin
20 inc VAT
Contact
n
screwfix.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/kqrfago
System requirements
ScrewFix LAP 13A 2-Gang Switched Socket and USB Charger Port
With a daily need for charging,
smartphones and tablets end up
causing more USB and Lightning
cable mess than old-fashioned
rotary dial phones with their curly
cords. Indeed, our wall power
sockets are being taken over by
plugs for USB charging cables,
meaning you need to disconnect
the kettle just to charge your
iPhone or Android, and vice versa.
The answer could be this product:
a wall plate that includes both 3-pin
power sockets and USB slots.
ScrewFixs LAP 13A 2-Gang
Switched Socket and USB Charger
Port Brushed Steel Flat Plate
features an integral moisture
protection gasket and angled, inline terminals, and comes supplied
with backed out captive screws for
easy installation. This isnt difficult,
depending on the placement of
the plate and your own ability to
wire up electrical equipment.
During our tests, we stupidly
decided to fit ours as a replacement
to a wall plate under a cupboard in
a darker corner of a
room. This was a bit of
a struggle, especially
when we left the
plastic surround off
the first time. But if
you have ever switched
a wall plate before,
youll know it can be
fiddly but not headscratchingly complex.
Most importantly, before you
do anything turn off your homes
electricity, double-check that the
power is off, and then remove the
existing plate before switching to
the new one. Its a good idea to
take a picture of the back of the
old wallplate while the wires are
still attached in case you have to
revert to the old one again.
The brushed steel wall charging
plate features two standard 3-pin
sockets and two USB outputs (2.1A,
5V, Type A) and requires a 35mm
depth wall box. If your power sockets
are all used up with USB plugs, then
this is a great solution.
Verdict
The Screwfix LAP 13A 2-Gang
Switched Socket and USB Charger
Port Brushed Steel Flat Plate is
a great solution if all your power
sockets are taken over by USB
cable plugs. If youre handy with
a screwdriver and can wire a wall
plate, then this is straightforward
to install. J Simon Jary
03/09/2014 15:48
Reviews
USB CHARGER
16 inc VAT
Contact
n
inateck.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/kbxuhdf
System requirements
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Inateck UC5001
Many things charge via USB these
days, even some laptops such as
the HP Chromebook 11 (tinyurl.com/
kpftxmd). Its inconvenient to have
several chargers plugged in when
you need to recharge multiple
smartphones at the same time,
but this is where multi-port chargers
such as the Inateck UC5001 five-port
USB charger come in.
It might look like a USB hub,
but this diminutive box which
measures 102x57x21mm provides
enough power to charge two iPads
and three iPhones at the same time.
The three USB ports on the
left deliver 1A, which is enough for
smartphones, while the other two
offer up to 2.1A, which should match
the requirements of most tablets.
You can, of course, charge five
smartphones or five tablets at once,
but those plugged into the three 1A
ports will charge more slowly.
Conversely, plugging a
smartphone into either of the Super
Charger ports wont make it charge
any faster than if it were attached to
Verdict
As long as you want to use Inatecks
UC5001 five-port USB charger
somewhere where you can hide the
power brick, its a neat solution to
the charging problem. It doesnt
really work on a kitchen worktop
where it just looks untidy. But on an
office desk, its a very handy gadget
indeed. J Jim Martin
powertraveller.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/mhwvf3z
System requirements
Verdict
Solar power will always be rather
hit and miss in the British climate,
so dont expect too much except
in bright sunlight but, under
those conditions, youll garner
a considerable charge during a
days hiking. J Mike Bedford
03/09/2014 15:48
Reviews
PORTABLE GENERATOR
biolitestove.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/Lkrgdx9
System requirements
Wood/biomass-burning
stove with thermoelectric
generator; four-and-a-half
minutes specified boil
time per litre; 46g of
wood to boil 1 litre; 2W
specified continuous
charging output via
USB; components:
combustion chamber,
battery/generator, USBto-USB lead, stuff sack
for carrying;
110x210x125mm; 935g
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
BioLite CampStove
The BioLite CampStove is no
ordinary camping accessory. In
addition to cooking your evening
meal, this extraordinary piece of kit
also charges your smartphone and
tablet or other portable electronics
gear. As the name suggests, the
CampStove burns any biomass that
you can find round the campsite
for example twigs and pine cones
instead of gas or paraffin.
BioLite heralds this as
environmentally friendly, though,
to get maximum heat from this
source of fuel, fan-assistance is
necessary. Indeed, the stove has
a fan inside thats powered from
an internal battery, and while you
should charge the battery before
you leave home, a built-in generator
serves to keep it topped up.
The science behind this electrical
generator is not explained by
the manufacturer, other than its
description as a patent-pending
thermoelectric generator.
Whats more, it generates more
electricity than is required just to
maintain battery charge so the
excess is available, via a USB port,
for charging electronic equipment.
No-one is likely going to buy
the CampStove just to charge their
phone so we were keen, first of all,
to see how good it is at cooking. The
bottom line is that we were able to
boil 500ml of water in four minutes,
Verdict
With very little if any competition,
were not able to compare the
BioLite CampStove with similar
products. However, in our tests
it came close to meeting the
manufacturers claims and proved
itself effective both as a camping
stove and a charger for portable
electronics gear. J Mike Bedford
03/09/2014 15:52
Reviews
WIND-UP RADIO
34 inc VAT
Contact
n
freeplayenergy.com
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/nwh9nyy
System requirements
Crank-powered radio/
torch/battery; 3.6V,
600mAh NiMH internal
battery; 5V 25mA solar
panel (specified); 5V
500mA wind-up
generator (measured at
120rpm); mini-USB power
in for charging, USB
power out for charging,
3.5mm stereo jack for
headphones; radio: FM
88 to 108MHz, AM 520
to 1700kHz, SW 3 to
22MHz; 1m drop test;
resistant to light rain and
splashing water for short
periods (no IP
specification quoted);
145x60mm; 300g
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
be appropriate
to consider this as a
device for charging a phone for
emergency use, which is what
Freeplay envisage.
The theme of emergency
preparedness extends to TUFs
other elements, namely the radio
and torch. FM radio is becoming
less common in mobile phones in
favour of internet radio, which is
a drain on the battery that can be
put to better use if youre cut off
from mains power. Also, if youre
travelling abroad, youll only hear
local stations on FM.
In providing SW, though, youll
probably be able to hear several
English language broadcasts,
including the BBC World Service.
We found reception on FM and
AM to be acceptable for catching up
Verdict
If you want to use a phone or a
tablet for significant periods of
time while youre away from mains
power, the TUF isnt for you. This is
a device to provide power when you
need it in emergencies, a job it does
admirably. J Mike Bedford
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 51
03/09/2014 15:52
Reviews
IMAGE-EDITING SOFTWARE
From 7.49
per month
Contact
n
adobe.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/qyvxd9q
System requirements
The improved SMART GUIDES DISPLAY helpful spacing info about your
documents content depending on where you point your cursor (circled)
selection to the Refine Edge dialog
box for more tweaking.
New in the Blur Gallery filter
family are two offerings that let
you simulate motion in a photo that
doesnt have any. The Path Blur filter
allows you to create the appearance
of motion along a path that you
draw it can be straight or riddled
with curves. Fine-tune the blurs
direction, angle, speed and even
how much blurring occurs at the
paths start and end points using a
combination of on-image and sliderbased controls. The Spin Blur filter
lets you put an incredibly realistic
spin on an object using a simple set
of on-image controls. Happily, both
filters work as smart filters.
Font library
One of the benefits of a Creative
Cloud subscription is access to
hundreds of fonts via the online
service Typekit. In CC 2014, you can
access this from the font menu and,
once installed, use those fonts in any
CC program on your computer. Also
new is the ability to search installed
fonts by typing part of its name or
attribute into the font family menu,
and preview the active type layers
content in another font by pointing
at it in the font menu (you dont
even have to highlight the text first).
03/09/2014 16:04
Reviews
Verdict
Since Photoshop CC 2014 is only
available by subscription and its
a separate installation theres
no reason not to install it. The
productivity enhancements, new
selection command and motion
blur filters are big time-savers, plus
the ability to edit masks made by
Camera Raws Graduated and Radial
filters is incredibly helpful. If your
workflow depends on some of the
missing panels, theres no harm in
keeping the older version. And with
Adobes Creative Cloud Photography
program you get Photoshop and
Lightroom (along with a slew of
Creative Cloud benefits) for 7.49
per month this level of pixelpushing power has never been
more affordable. J Lisa Snider
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 53
03/09/2014 16:04
Reviews
ILLUSTRATION SOFTWARE
From 7.49
per month
Contact
n
adobe.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/ogtfysp
System requirements
LIVE CORNERS allow you to quickly create rounded stars and gear-like objects such as those shown here
Adobe continues to refine Illustrator
CC 2014, a minor update with just
a handful of feature additions.
Interestingly, far more new features
were introduced to the vector app
with the mid-cycle Illustrator CC
17.1 update in January. A number
of these merit discussion, and
combined with the enhancements
in CC 2014, they address one of
the longest-standing complaints
Ive had with the software.
Better tools
In the past, I have lamented the
applications anaemic object tools.
Select the rounded rectangle tool,
click the artboard and youd be
asked to specify the corner radius;
once this was determined, it was
03/09/2014 16:04
Reviews
Verdict
Illustrator CC 2014 cannot be
considered a major new release, but
rather, the continued refinement of
a venerable tool. Its refreshing to
see Adobe go back to the basics,
upgrading simple shape tools
that have been stagnant for over
a decade. J Tim McVeigh
The PERSPECTIVE
GRID now alters
the perspective of
attached objects
when you change
the grid itself
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 55
03/09/2014 16:04
Reviews
AUDIO-EDITING SOFTWARE
40 inc VAT
Contact
n
magix.com/gb
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/nqth7me
System requirements
Windows XP/Vista/7/8;
1GHz processor; 1GB
memory; 1GB drive space;
16-bit sound card
Usability:
Features:
Value:
A TRACKS
WAVEFORM is shown
at the top, with the
programs controls
located below
AUDIO CLEANING LAB lets you digitise all your old vinyl and cassettes
Verdict
If you have a library of cherished
music on disc or tape, and want to
transfer it and tidy it up at the same
time, Magix Audio Cleaning Lab 2014
does the job. J Simon Williams
56 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews November 2014
03/09/2014 15:56
Reviews
nuance.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/owhspsg
System requirements
Windows Vista/7/8;
2.2GHz dual-core
processor; 2GB (32-bit)
or 4GB (64-bit) RAM;
4GB hard drive space
Usability:
Features:
Value:
The programs
control bar has been
redesigned and
MINIMISES ITSELF
in its reduced state
Verdict
There used to be several choices
for anybody wanting to use speech
recognition on a PC. Now, theres
pretty much only Dragon Naturally
Speaking, but version 13 is still
innovative. The ability to use built-in
mics on Windows laptops and tablets
works well and gives extra flexibility,
but the software still demands high
specifications. J Simon Williams
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 57
03/09/2014 15:57
APPS
28/08/2014 10:17
Reviews: Apps
2
TVGuide gives you an easy-to-read grid
that lets you see whats on for the upcoming
week. You can sort and select channels to
customise it to your preferences, and, if
youve got an internet-connected Samsung
TV, you can even use the app as a remote.
The Upcoming Films feature is
particularly useful, showing all of the
films playing over the next week. Youll
find recommendations within the app, too,
and you can mark shows as favourites to
keep track of when theyre next on.
Also useful for Freeview users is the
ability to select your country, region and
then system. Then tap Freeview in the
System menu to see only the channels
youve got available to you.
3
and Recommended sections to find out
whats best to watch.
It could do with a bit of a redesign,
as it looks a bit clunky, but its free and
it should do the trick.
3. On Air
5. Beamly
4. Tv24.co.uk TV Guide
Tv24.co.uk TV Guide is another option for
iOS and Android. Itll ask you to choose
your TV provider, so Freeview users can
get rid of the channels they dont have
access to from the apps guide.
Browsing options include Top Movies,
Sports, Series, Reality, Entertainment,
5
November 2014 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 59
28/08/2014 10:18
Reviews: Apps
GAME
Civilization Revolution 2
10.49
Contact
n
2kgames.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/px2ssvo
System requirements
Verdict
Even so, this is an excellent and
charming strategy game. Its
extremely hard to justify the
purchase if you do already own Civ
Rev 1 on iOS, as while the graphics
may be prettier youll stop noticing
quickly enough, and the addition
of a couple of new leaders doesnt
really mix things up. Its pretty
darn close to Must Have if youre a
strategy lover who doesnt have the
first game, though. J Alec Meer
28/08/2014 10:17
BUSINESS
LAPTOP
1,642 ex VAT
1,971 inc VAT
Contact
n
dell.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/qepL3kt
Specification
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Connectivity
This is good, with four USB 3.0
ports, HDMI, and VGA interfaces,
a built-in DVD drive, two-stream
802.11ac Wi-Fi and gigabit ethernet
Performance
The general-purpose
PCMark 7 benchtest produced
a respectable but not recordbreaking score of 5700 points,
but that particular test doesnt
really make full use of the
FirePro graphics card.
In contrast, the applicationoriented Home and Work test suits
in PCMark 8 benefit more from
the laptops graphics performance,
and stormed right ahead with
scores of 4161 and 4550 points
respectively. Those are the highest
scores weve seen since we
Display
The 15.5in screen is a conventional
twisted-nematic (TN) panel and
its 1920x1080 resolution is far from
state-of-the-art anymore but the
image is bright and colourful, with
good sideways viewing angles and
a matt finish that reduces glare
and reflection.
The battery life is a pleasant
surprise, as that huge 97Wh lithium
battery pack managed to run the
Dell for six hours when using the
integrated HD 4600 graphics to
stream video from the BBC iPlayer.
The battery pack is designed
for easy removal, too, so you can
quickly swap in a spare battery
(144) if you need to use the more
power-hungry FirePro graphics
when youre away from the office.
It was also interesting to see the
variety of power plans available for
the M2800, with a number of powersaving or power-maximising plans
and even a battery plan designed
for low-latency audio applications.
Verdict
The Precision M2800 is big and
heavy, but its performance is hard to
beat if you need a high-end mobile
workstation for graphics, video or
3D design. Battery life is respectable
for such a powerful laptop, and
along with Dells three-year on-site
warranty will ensure that the M2800
earns its keep. J Cliff Joseph
28/08/2014 17:27
Reviews: Business
PROJECTOR
567 ex VAT
681 inc VAT
Contact
n
optoma.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/q6ekffa
Specification
Optoma EW400
The EW400 is a plug-and-play
desktop DLP projector that manages
to combine style with being highly
practical, bristling with a range of
connectivity options.
Weighing a comfortable 2.04kg
and measuring just 288x220x86mm,
its a sturdy projector with an
attractive all-white exterior. It can
be fixed to a tripod or placed on
a flat surface with a 40-degree
vertical keystone correction.
The EW400 has a 240W lamp
with 3500 hours lamp life in its
normal mode, and a native WXGA
(1280x800) resolution. Optoma lists
it as having a 4000 ANSI lumen
brightness rating, and a throw
ratio of 1.54:1, which can be cast
from 1.28- to 12m away, to create a
maximum screen size of 9.21m.
On the back is a selection of
ports including a USB connector to
PC socket, which can be used for
Remote Mouse function, a separate
USB input for flash drives, keyboard
and mini Wi-Fi dongle. Theres also a
Mini-USB input for a display.
In addition,
theres HDMI,
RS-232, VGA
out, 2x VGA
in, composite
video, RJ45 for ethernet
connections, and a set of 3.5mm
audio jacks and a microphone input.
Youll have to purchase
separately the Mini Wi-Fi Dongle kit
(WU5205). When we tried it there
was a problem with the software
version of Optoma Presenter not
connecting to the EW400. The
Optoma techies told us there might
have been a conflict with Windows 7
and have since recommended that
anyone wanting to use the Dongle
should download a correct version
from tinyurl.com/L7ad4mt. Once the
update was installed, the connection
was established almost instantly.
Controlling your presentations
can be organised via PC, via the
remote control, or manually via
the control panel behind the zoom
lever on the EW400. If you have
several projectors linked to your
Verdict
The Optoma EW400, with its
bright and clear presentation is
an affordable as well as attractive
choice. J Martyn Clayden
KEYBOARD
25 ex VAT
31 inc VAT
Contact
n
microsoft.com/uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/mfxwrqg
Specification
367x132x194mm; 434g;
Qwerty keyboard with
trackpad; 2x AAA
batteries (included);
works with Windows
or OS X; wireless USB
dongle included
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Verdict
Although Microsofts device would
work okay as a portable keyboard
for work purposes, it isnt its
intended use. For navigating around
a media system or smarthome
setup, it will be perfect. At this price
its great value. J Matt Egan
28/08/2014 17:27
Reviews: Business
SHEETFED SCANNER
1,416 ex VAT
1,700 inc VAT
Contact
n
canon.co.uk
Read more
n
tinyurl.com/pqj54xr
Specification
A3 sheetfed; 600dpi
resolution; colour duplex;
stated speed 60ppm/
120ipm; up to 60-sheet
ADF capacity); USB 2.0
interface; specified daily
duty cycle 7500 sheets;
ultrasonic multifeed
detection; 3000mm max
with straight feeding;
TWAIN/ISIS compliant;
424x246x120mm when
closed; 424x440x210mm
open; 6.1kg
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
Canon DR-M1060
The Canon DR-M1060 may be one of
the most expensive scanners weve
reviewed, but its by no means alone
in a 1,500+ marketplace. Indeed,
as a sheetfed that can use its
automatic document feeder (ADF)
to process large volumes of A3-size
documents, its positively cheap.
In fairness, there arent many
models that can offer the same
facilities, and none of them can do
so for the same price. The Epson
WorkForce DS-5000N, for example,
is a similarly-priced model, but is
limited in its quantity of scans youll
have to pay an extra 1,000 for the
DS-6000 if you want a full ADF.
Xerox has a number of models,
but the likes of the DocuMate 4760
are going to cost you another 400
to 500 on top of this Canons price,
while the more affordable DocuMate
4830 lacks the specification of the
DR-M1060. Given all that, the 1700
price tag suddenly starts to look like
value for money on paper, at least.
At first glance, you dont get
much for your money. Given its
A3 size, the DR-M1060 is a rather
diminutive model. Two trays slot in
and out for easy transport, but you
must take care to extend them fully
failure to do so makes the Canon
rather prone to chewing up sheets
during the scan process.
The DR-M1060 has a depth
of 246mm when packed up, but
measures 440mm when fully
extended. Thats not deep for an
A3 model, although we recommend
leaving plenty of room in front of
the scanner, so you can lay down
A3 documents fully. The input tray
could have been a bit longer, but we
appreciate Canons determination
to keep the footprint down.
The DR-M1060 is comfortable
with A3 paper, though, and can
even handle larger sizes A1 is
available in Folio mode, although
youll want to stick to A3 and smaller
for the best results. The interface
is USB only, so theres no network
connection to scan from afar. The
Canon can take in as many as 60
sheets at a time, and has a very
robust advertised duty cycle of 7500
scans per day. By way of contrast,
the rather more expensive Xerox
DocuMate 4760 is rated at just
5000 scans daily, while the 4830
is specified for just 3000.
Double-feed detection
During testing, the double-feed
detection wasnt totally flawless,
and could be stumped by sticky
notes and postage stamps. On these
occasions, though, a DFR button
can be pressed to tell the scanner
to continue on its merry way. Most
of the time, though, the only button
youre likely to need is the Scan
activator. In typical modern-scannerstyle, one touch of this initiates the
scan, and fires up the software.
The Canons software bundle
defaults to CaptureOnTouch, and
this program is perfectly adequate
for most everyday office tasks,
allowing you to turn out PDF,
JPEG, TIFF, BMP and PowerPoint
files, and to then whip source
material into Evernote, SharePoint,
and other third-party programs.
The uncluttered interface doesnt
overwhelm you with options, and the
results are smooth. Batch scanning,
however, will be performed more
easily using
CapturePerfect,
and this powerful package allows
for a high degree of customisability,
while increasing the range of
results. PDF enthusiasts will like the
inclusion of eCopy PDF Pro Office,
and Kofax VRS offers an alternative
to the Canon titles.
Given the relatively modest
size of the DR-M1060, we expected
it to struggle more with A3
documents. However, it made
short work of our test bundles,
scanning a 20-page bundle, for
instance, at the rate of 39 sheets
per minute (or 78 pages per minute)
at a resolution of 200dpi.
We pushed this figure to almost
100ppm using A4 material. Even
at 300dpi, the scanner managed
28 sheets per minute (56ppm) in
A3, although 600dpi was a little
slow, at nine sheets (or 18ppm).
Our mixed bundle worked well,
and we were able to process a
range of different items, including
embossed business cards.
The scanner wasnt particularly
keen on documents with rough
edges, and we experienced the odd
problem with pages ripped from
magazines. In general, though,
it scanned smoothly. The results
were very nice, with good attention
to colour, and clear edges to the
characters. Barcode detection isnt
included as standard, although you
can add such facilities as an option.
Verdict
The Canon DR-M1060 may lack a
few of the more advanced features
(direct network support, barcode
detection as standard) that you
might get from the highest end
models, but those do tend to be
considerably more expensive again.
For larger businesses needing simply
to convert capacious A3 bundles,
this model offers a mix of price
and performance thats currently
unmatched on the market at this
time. J Robin Morris
28/08/2014 17:27
GROUP TEST
BUDGET
Gaming PCs
With the release of Intels Pentium Anniversary processor, powerful entry-level
gaming PCs are now a reality. Paul Monckton reviews six wallet-friendly examples
Processor
Powerful performance like this at under
500 wouldnt be possible without the Intel
Pentium Anniversary Edition (G3258) chip,
and all the PCs on test use it to great effect.
With its unlocked multiplier, the
overclocking potential of the Pentium G3258
is so great that this low-end processor can
run at an extra 1GHz above its rated speed
without breaking a sweat and itll go a lot
faster with only moderately priced air cooling
systems. The Pentium G3258 is a dual-core
processor without Hyper-Threading, so
while its capable of running most games at
a decent speed, its no match for a Core i5
when it comes to running multiple desktop
applications simultaneously or multithreaded
apps like Adobe Photoshop.
Motherboard
Special considerations apply when building
an overclocked gaming PC on a budget.
While the Pentium G3258 processor is an
inexpensive component, a motherboard
with an overclockable Z97 Express chipset
is relatively costly. Intels less expensive
H81 Express and B85 Express chipsets,
aimed at budget PCs, dont officially support
overclocking, but many vendors including
MSI and Asus have found a workaround to
unlock them. This enables the pairing of a
low-cost Pentium Anniversary CPU with a
low-cost budget motherboard and is the way
most of these PCs have been put together.
The saving allows you to build a less
expensive PC, or as is the case in our
round-up, to buy a faster graphics card.
Although your warranty protects you
from system failures due to overclocking,
Graphics card
In nearly all cases, its the graphics card
thats going to determine the overall
quality of your gaming experience. The
best performance in this group test comes
from the MSI GeForce GTX 760. One of
these, paired with an overclocked Pentium
Anniversary Edition processor can deliver
smooth gameplay with high-quality settings
at the maximum resolution of a full HD
monitor or TV. Want one? Youll have to
go with an H81 Express or B85 Express
motherboard to stay within our budget.
The next step down in performance
comes from the nVidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti,
and, if overclocked, it will still enable good
gameplay at high resolutions, but youre
going to have to bring down the quality
a notch or two to maintain high enough
frame rates. The difference is noticeable,
but it wont prevent you from playing any
of your favourite
games. Another
lower-cost option is
an AMD Radeon R7
265, as supplied by
Wired2Fire. Although
this card didnt
perform as well as
a GTX 750Ti, there
are plenty of games
where it will beat
the performance
of the MSI card
quite convincingly.
Cooling
This is essential
to stop your CPU
from overheating,
but its especially
important with
an overclocked
one. Theres not
enough money in
the budget for fancy liquid-based
coolers, so most vendors have opted for
traditional heat-pipe based heatsink and
fan combos. Low-cost examples of these
can still provide better cooling performance
and less noise and a stock Intel cooler. The
more you overclock your
system, the better
the cooling needs
to be. If you intend
to push your pre-overclock PC even further,
choose one with a powerful cooling system.
Gamers like their systems to look the
part, but the case needs to be practical, too.
Smart internal cable management helps with
airflow, while fan controllers let you reduce
noise or boost cooling as necessary.
Monitor
For more immersive gameplay, go for the
largest display you can find and one with
a good contrast ratio. A quick response
time will ensure that fast, frantic gameplay
remains blur free, although not all gamers
TEST CENTRE
28/08/2014 17:20
GROUP TEST
TEST CENTRE
Warranty
Warranty terms are crucial when it comes to
gaming PCs. An advantage of buying a prebuilt overclocked computer is that all of the
overclocking will be covered by the vendors
warranty. The longer the warranty the better,
but be on the lookout for a collect-and-return
option rather than a return-to-base one.
28/08/2014 17:20
ANCE
PERFORM
NT
EFFICIE
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
TEST CENTRE
03/09/2014 12:04
TEST CENTRE
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
RALL
BEST OVE ANCE
PERFORM
USB 3.0 ports up to six. A pair of small control sliders allow you to
change both the brightness and the colour of the logo to suit your
preference. You also get a DVD writer combo drive which, uniquely
in this group, supports Blu-ray playback. Scans system is includes
a one-year on-site warranty, with the following two years under a
return-to-base policy, but covering both parts and labour.
VERDICT: It may flout our pricing rules, but the Scan 3XS Performance
GT is still a great system. It offers class-leading graphics performance
combined with a high-spec Intel X97 Express-based motherboard
which will ensure that you can upgrade it easily in the future.
03/09/2014 12:04
ANCE
PERFORM
NT
EFFICIE
WIRED2FIRE VX-6
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
LOWEST
PRICE
CHILLBLAST
CYBERPOWER
DINO PC
Product name
Fusion Spartacus
Processor
CPU Cooler
RAM
Storage
Power supply
Motherboard
Asus B85M-G
Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3
Operating system
Graphics
USB ports
Other ports
Display
Optical drive
DVDRW
BD-ROM/DVDRW
DVDRW
Case
Warranty
PCMark 7 overall
4110
4325
4657
PCMark 8 home
4250
4191
4630
PCMark 8 work
4818
4607
4757
44/300W
51/374W
63/195W
PERFORMANCE
Games score
(fps)1
Power consumption2
1Games
tested: Alien vs Predator 720p/1080p, Max; Sniper Elite V2 Low/720p/1080p, Med; Final Fantasy XIV 720p Med/1080p Max 2Measured when idle and under load respectively
TEST CENTRE
03/09/2014 12:04
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
SCAN
WIRED2FIRE
YOYOTECH
3XS Performance GT
VX-6
Warbird RS5
Rajintek Themis
8GB 1600MHz
Corsair VS450
500W FSP
500W
Gigabyte Z97M-DS3H
Asus H81M-E
MSI H81-P33
None
DVDRW
DVDRW
DVDRW
Coolermaster K350
EzCool Q7
None
2 years RTB
4225
5560
3950
N/A
4900
N/A
N/A
4742
N/A
38/324W
41/228W
50/175W
TEST CENTRE
03/09/2014 12:05
GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE
POWER EFFICIENCY
Idle power consumption (watts)
7,000
6,000
80
70
40
60
5,000
50
30
4,000
40
3,000
20
30
2,000
20
10
1,000
0
Chillblast
Cyberpower
Dino PC
Scan
Wired2Fire
YoYoTech
10
0
Chillblast
Cyberpower
Dino PC
Scan
Wired2Fire
YoYoTech
Chillblast
Cyberpower
Dino PC
Scan
Wired2Fire
YoYoTech
Conclusion
Weve asked vendors to use whatever tricks
they deemed necessary to deliver a fast,
fully-featured gaming system for under
600 and, as a result, corners have been cut
to deliver the fastest possible performance.
The Systems from Chillblast and
Cyberpower both achieve excellent gaming
performance at a low price. Because the
Cyberpower system suffered a few hiccups
during testing, wed recommend the
Chillblast system to anyone demanding the
best gaming performance on a budget.
Dino PCs Magmadon GTX 750 Ti takes
the official route to overclocking, using the
Z97 Express chipset, but the extra expense
How we test
With this budget gaming PC group test,
weve started testing with Futuremarks
PCMark 8 v2.0 benchmarking suite. Unlike
the previous PCMark 7 benchmark, the new
version doesnt produce a single overall
figure. Instead, results are divided into
Home, Creative, Work and Storage tests.
The Home benchmark reflects command
tasks for typical home use with lower
computing requirements such as web
browsing, photo editing and low-end gaming.
The Creative benchmark is aimed more
at enthusiasts and professionals working
with multimedia and entertainment content.
It is more demanding on the processor and
includes transcoding tests as well as further
gaming workloads.
The Work test is geared towards office
work tasks like creating documents,
web browsing, spreadsheets and video
conferencing. This test does not stress the
gaming and multimedia capabilities of the
PCs in this group test.
Gaming performance
Weve used three games to evaluate graphics
performance. We run our tests at 1280x720-
Overclocking
Because gamers demand the best
performance from their hardware, we allow
vendors to overclock PCs in this category.
We require that any tweaked component is
designed for overclocking, and that the PC
vendor offers a comprehensive warranty.
Subjective assessment
We pay close attention to the physical
characteristics of each PC, its noise output
and its build quality, delving inside the
case and taking note of the quality of
components used, cabling and airflow.
Support
Differences in warranty terms can impact
our scoring. Long warranties are sought
after, but we also look at the terms and
conditions specifically, whether faulty PCs
must be returned to the vendor at your cost
and if both parts and labour are included. J
TEST CENTRE
28/08/2014 17:21
02/09/2014 12:38
GROUP TEST
802.11ac wireless
Andrew Harrison tests six of the latest 802.11ac-compatible
routers that support improved performance, reliability and range
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
routers
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
D-LINK DIR-880L
For Mac users, the Apple AirPort base station has long been the go-to
wireless router over various incarnations. Thats not least because
the AirPort units are about the easiest in the world to set up, beside
the obvious design aesthetic which recommends them to people that
dont like ostentatious or ugly IT boxes in the lounge.
But users of Windows PCs shouldnt feel left out as the AirPort
Extreme is a standards-compliant wireless router that works with
any IEEE 802.11 device. There is the unusual issue of setup and
administration though unlike every other wireless router thats
configured by a web browser, AirPort hardware can only be accessed
through dedicated software, available for iOS and OS X.
At its core, the AirPort Extreme is a fairly conventional dualband 11ac router, based on a Broadcom chipset, with three stream
capability. But there are many details that set it up from the larger
crowd of routers, which often seem to be based on a reference design
from Broadcom thats been cloned into different-shaped boxes.
Unlike any other router, its power supply is mounted internally, so
there is no unsightly wallwart and its thin tangly cable to hide. On the
rear face are just three gigabit LAN ports, a gigabit WAN port for a
separate DSL modem, mains cable inlet and a USB 2.0 port. Its also
the only premium wireless router here without a USB 3.0 port.
In place of a full-screen web page, the setup utility offers all
options through a small application window, or through an iPad or
iPhone app. Most of the usual features are included, to configure
each radio network with its own name and password, automatic
or manual selection of channel. You can select a bridged mode
if you dont wish to use the AirPort as a DHCP server, and its a
straightforward operation to introduce additional AirPort Extreme
or Express units to extend the wireless network.
Access Control is offered to restrict named wireless clients using
a prearranged schedule. VPN passthrough is available, but theres
no VPN server option or the ability to change the MAC address.
VERDICT: The AirPort Extreme is superbly built and engineered
internally, while its performance on 11n, in particular, is outstanding
even if its 11ac speed was behind the leaders of the pack. If you have
a Mac or even just iPhone or iPad, its a doddle to set up and use, and
is well supported with essential firmware and software updates.
With the exception of Apple, few other routers come in white. But
beneath its high-gloss pale skin, theres a lot less to separate the
DIR-880Ls features from other brands routers.
The DIR-880L is D-Links best router, which the company claims
delivers the ultimate wireless connectivity. Its a dual-band design
with three external antennas, and is specified for 600Mb/s operation
on the familiar 2.4GHz band, and 1300Mb/s on 5GHz using draft 11ac.
The DIR-880L is a flat table-top design with three tall removable
aerials ranged along the back panel. A mounting kit also enables
you to fix the unit upright to a wall. Six LEDs light across the top to
denote various modes of operation, and cooling vents can be seen
around the front and side edges.
On the back are the standard one gigabit WAN port to plug into
an outboard modem, and four gigabit LAN ports. Also present is one
USB 2.0 port for connecting USB storage or a printer; while another
USB 3.0 port is sited on the left of the case when viewed from the
front. A power button behind lets you easily switch off the router
without having to pull the DC cable from its wall-wart adaptor, but
theres no facility to switch off wireless radio.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is available via a button in the
routers right side. Features found in the admin interface include
a web filtering firewall that can be set to a daily schedule, system
logging, and traffic statistics with a graph view.
The overall wireless performance of the D-Link DIR-880L was one
of the best in this group. Using 2.4GHz 11n, and in common with most
other routers here, it averaged 171Mb/s at short range. At 10m its 11n
performance was in the middle of the pack, averaging 120Mb/s.
On the open 5GHz plains using draft-11ac, it returned the highest
recorded average figure here of 625Mb/s including a 636Mb/s
result from StC flow. In the longer range test, it also returned a
relatively healthy 389Mb/s average.
Its USB 3.0 port will only accept Microsoft formatted drives, and
had read speeds up to 51MB/s, but writing data speeds were 24MB/s.
VERDICT: The DIR-880L is an easy-to-configure wireless router with
enough advanced features to also keep some power users happy. Its
nearby wireless performance with 11ac was the best of on test, and it
also worked well at range, gaining it a worthy Recommended award.
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
LINKSYS EA6900
LINKSYS WRT1900AC
If you dont mind its geeky looks, the Linksys WRT1900AC is one of
the most impressive-looking routers available today. Based heavily
on the industrial design of the classic WRT54G, the WRT1900AC
looks back to the glory days of the Linksys company just before it
was bought by Cisco. The WRT1900AC has the same black-and-blue
two-tone colour scheme, and the classic aspect that makes it seem
to magically hover in mid-air on four corner posts.
This new product is right up-to-date though with draft-11ac
wireless, and its the only UK router on sale with four separate
external antennas, bristling from all around the chassis.
While the 11ac draft specification allows for four MIMO streams,
the WRT1900AC, like every other router here, only uses three.
Linksys bills the WRT1900AC wireless router as 600 + 1300,
promising 600Mb/s on the 2.4GHz band, but, uniquely, it uses a
Marvell processor and RF chipset. The dual-core Marvell Armada is
clocked higher than any other router CPU at 1.2GHz.
Construction is first-class. Four removable aerials are screwed in
place with the usual RP-SMA type connectors two on the back plate,
and one on each side of the chassis. At the back we also find the
typical four gigabit LAN and one gigabit WAN port, plus two separate
USB ports. One is USB 3.0 and the second is an unusual combination
USB 2.0 and eSATA port. The eSATA is a strange choice as these
ports are effectively obsoleted by USB 3.0.
Like the Linksys EA6900 (left), the WRT1900AC uses Linksys
Smart Wi-Fi interface with remote management, but its results were
disappointing. On the 2.4GHz band at short range, we saw an average
throughput of 158Mb/s, where most other routers plateaued at
170Mb/s or above. At 10m, the Linksys turned in just 101Mb/s.
Switching to draft 11ac on the 5GHz band, we were similarly
underwhelmed by a limited 408Mb/s at close range, followed by a
poor 212Mb/s at 10m. The routers USB results were joint second-best
with 51MB/s read speed and 34MB/s for writing large files.
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
Build
Features
Performance
Value
Overall
TRENDNET TEW-818DRU
VERDICT: The TEW-818DRU looks like great value, but it lacks a few
user-friendly features, and its performance is rather spotty. If youre
on a tight budget, look out for the first-generation Netgear R6300
which has been discounted to around a similar price.
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk
Mobile filler_mj.indd 71
02/09/2014 12:21
How we test
All wireless routers in this group were
tested at the same site, a house with few
neighbouring networks. Any outside wireless
networks were on the 2.4GHz band and low
level, while radio channels for testing were
chosen well away from such networks. RF
interference was reduced by switching off all
client Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi radios.
Data throughput speed tests were
conducted at two different ranges, 2m
line-of-sight and 10m with one intervening
internal wall. This longer-range test was set
up with router and test laptop at normal
incidence, and the wall was a standard UK
150mm-thick plaster/wood stud type.
We measured real performance on both
radio bands, using the 802.11n protocol on
2.4GHz and draft-802.11ac on 5GHz.
APPLE
D-LINK
LINKSYS
Model name
DIR-880L
EA6900
Product code
A1521 (ME918B/A)
DIR-880L
EA6900-UK
Firmware
7.7.3
1.01
1.1.42.161129
MIMO
3x3:3
3x3:3
3x3:3
1300 + 600
1300 + 600
Antennas
6x internal
3x external detachable
3x external detachable
RF chipset
2x Broadcom BCM4360
2x Broadcom BCM4360
2x Broadcom BCM4360
Processor
Broadcom BCM53019
Broadcom BCM4708A
Broadcom BCM4708A
Memory
Unknown
WAN ports
1x gigabit
1x gigabit
1x gigabit
LAN ports
3x gigabit
4x gigabit
4x gigabit
USB ports
1x USB 2.0
Dimensions
98x98x168mm
247x190x47mm
256x186x45mm
802.11n, 2.4GHz, 2m
171Mb/s
171Mb/s
170Mb/s
159Mb/s
120Mb/s
126Mb/s
802.11ac, 5GHz, 2m
572Mb/s
625Mb/s
571Mb/s
328Mb/s
389Mb/s
308Mb/s
Power consumption 1
8/9W
10/11W
10/10W
PERFORMANCE
1Idle/use
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
Conclusion
Interest in 11ac is likely to blossom by the end
of the year when Apple includes the facility
with its popular iOS devices. The natural
choice for anyone with an iPhone, iPad or
Mac is the AirPort Extreme, and in our tests
it proved itself a worthy choice. Its very
simple to use, has the finest build quality
and an easy style that will blend into the
home. But crucially, it has very good wireless
performance using 11ac; and the quickest
2.4GHz 11n performance of any router thats
passed through our test lab. Thats key to
getting the best out of all the legacy 11n
devices well be using for years to come.
If youre looking for a taste of 11ac, but
would rather not stretch to 169, wed still
advise steering clear of the TRENDnet TEW818DRU. Its wireless performance was spotty
LINKSYS
NETGEAR
TRENDNET
WRT1900AC
Nighthawk R7000
TEW-818DRU
WRT1900AC-UK
R7000-100UKS
TEW-818DRU/UK
1.1.8.161917
1.0.3.60_1.1.27
1.0.8.0
4x4:3
3x3:3
3x3:3
1300 + 600
1300 + 600
1300 + 600
4x external detachable
3x external detachable
3x internal
Marvell 88W8864
2x Broadcom BCM4360
2x Broadcom BCM4360
Broadcom BCM4708A
1x gigabit
1x gigabit
1x gigabit
4x gigabit
4x gigabit
4x gigabit
247x194x52mm
285x185x50mm
48x155x180mm
158Mb/s
171Mb/s
168Mb/s
101Mb/s
137Mb/s
106Mb/s
408Mb/s
592Mb/s
598Mb/s
212Mb/s
438Mb/s
270Mb/s
11/16W
9/10W
9/10W
TEST CENTRE
29/08/2014 16:28
FEATURE
27/08/2014 17:47
FEATURE
O
T
K
C
A
B
!
L
O
O
H
SC
er?
Looking for the ideal study partn
Jim Martin explains how to buy the
best laptop, tablet, smartphone and
printer, so yo u can be top of the
class next year
27/08/2014 17:47
Feature:Backtoschool
owsthetimetostartthinkingof
thetechyouregoingtoneedto
taketoschool,collegeoruniversity.
EverystudentneedsalaptoporPC;tablets
aregreatfornotetaking,butwhenyouneed
togetdowntosomeseriouswork,onlya
fully-fledgedPCwilldo.Orwillit?
Decidingwhetheryoushouldbuyatablet
orlaptopisatrickyproposition.Inyearsgone
by,tabletsweredevicesforentertainment,
notwork,butwithconvertiblesorhybrid
devices,companiessuchasMicrosoft,Asus
andLenovosayyougetthebestofboth
worldsatagreatprice.
However,mostpeoplestillpreferto
ownbothalaptopandatabletratherthan
compromisingandendingup(ifyoubuy
thewrongconvertible,thatis)withthe
worstofallworlds:anunderpoweredlaptop
andbulky,too-heavy-to-carry-everywhere
tablet.Sometimes,itmightevenbecheaper
tobuyseparatedevices:atop-endMicrosoft
Surface,forexample,costsmorethana
decentbudgetlaptopandtablet.
Wellexplainhowtochoosethebest
laptop,tabletandconvertiblehere,aswell
aswhattolookforinasmartphoneand
printer.Thatsalltheessentialkityoull
needforyourresearch,note-takingand
assignmentsandmostofitwilldouble
upasentertainmentbecause,asany
studentknows,itsnotallaboutwork.
amountofweighttoyourbackpack,soa
slightlyheavierlaptopthathasalongerlastingbatterycouldbeabetterchoice
thanalighterlaptop,whichyoullneedto
plugineverywhere.
Batterylife,then,isanotherfactor.This
variesfromjustacoupleofhourstoover12
hours,butdonttakethemanufacturersword
forit.Wealwaysrunthesameteststofind
outhowlongalaptoplastssoagaincheck
ourreviewstoseeiftheclaimsstandup.
Processingpowerisntusuallyan
issueeveninbudgetlaptops,sounless
youneedtorundemanding3D-orvideo
software,theresnoneedtopayextrafor
thetopprocessorsuchastheIntelCore
i7.LookoutforanIntelCorei3orCorei5,
andconsider3GBofRAMaminimum.For
laptopswithAMDprocessors,lookforan
A8orA10series.
Manylaptopsdispensewithanoptical
drivetosaveweight,bulk,costandbattery
life.Thatsnotusuallyaproblemandeven
27/08/2014 17:47
27/08/2014 17:47
CHROMEBOOKS
When searching for the best laptop, youll probably come across
Chromebooks. These look like laptops, but instead of running
Windows 8, they run Googles Chrome OS. This is much like the
Chrome web browser: everything is done online using web apps.
As long as you have an internet connection, Chromebooks can
be just as good as a regular laptop since most of what you do is
on the web these days. Its possible to create and edit documents
without a connection but Chromebooks are severely limited
when theyre not online.
Since they dont run Windows, you cant install Windows
applications and games on a Chromebook. You cant really edit
video, or run Photoshop, but you can edit photos and play casual
games online. Printing from a Chromebook is possible, but it
requires a printer that supports Google Cloud Print.
The real benefit of Chromebooks is their price: they usually
cost less than 300 and some are under 200. Certain models
have a SIM card slot so you can pop in a 3G SIM and get online
almost anywhere, but they are at the top end of the price scale
and youll then have to pay extra for the mobile data.
27/08/2014 17:47
110. Neither supports 4G or has a frontfacing camera, but the 630 comes with
Windows Phone 8.1.
If you want to go it alone and choose
your own smartphone, the things to look
for include the latest version of Android or
27/08/2014 17:47
CONVERTIBLES
If you like the idea of having one device that can be a laptop
and a tablet, theres a reasonable range of models to choose
between. Lenovo, Asus, Dell and Microsoft among others have
convertibles, with the Surface Pro 3 (tinyurl.com/neLnz52)
being the newest addition to Microsofts range.
One thing to consider is that most convertibles run Windows
8. Thats fine for laptop use, but as a tablet, youre limited to
Windows apps as opposed to Android or iOS apps. Currently,
the Windows 8 app store still lags behind Android and iOS.
Theres also the confusion of Windows RT. This tablet
operating system is available on some devices that look like
convertibles but arent theyre tablets with a detachable
keyboard. These cant run traditional Windows software such as
Photoshop they can only run apps from the Windows Store.
As we said right at the start, we still think that convertibles
are a compromise over having a separate laptop and tablet.
However, the low prices of some models such as the new Acer
Aspire Switch 10 (tinyurl.com/qddgkg2) can be tempting. This
27/08/2014 17:47
FEATURE
Configuring smartphones
Battery life is something that you should
take into account when buying a smartphone
or tablet, so it would be sensible to take
a look at our comparative reviews before
taking the plunge. In reality, though, other
qualities are going to be higher up your list of
requirements, so battery life will only affect
your decision if choosing between a pair of
otherwise very similar devices. However, you
dont have to use all your phones facilities
all the time, and by configuring it correctly,
and turning on features only when you need
them, you can do a lot to increase battery life.
Perhaps the most power-hungry parts of a
phone or tablet that are only used for certain
tasks are the GPS circuitry and the Bluetooth
02/09/2014 17:33
02/09/2014 17:33
Power rangers
Laptop issues
Smartphone and tablet battery life might
be an issue we hear a lot about, but laptops
often have a much poorer battery life. Theres
not as much scope for turning features off to
save power (as with Android devices) but you
should ensure that Windows is configured
optimally to prolong battery life.
In the Windows 7 or 8 Control Panel,
select Hardware and Sound, and then Power
Options. By default, the balanced mode will
be selected, but for extra battery life, at
the cost of slightly less convenient settings,
you can select the Power Saver mode (not
available on all PCs). Having made your
choice, by clicking on Change plan settings
against your selected
mode, you can
fine tune it by
selecting,
02/09/2014 17:33
FEATURE
28/08/2014 10:02
FEATURE
Most of the countries found in the
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE supports
mobile HD services (see map, left)
calls and customers will automatically switch
to HD Voice technology when in coverage
including those on our 4G service (when
their phone connects to 3G to make calls).
This leaves O2 as the only UK network
without the facility, and currently, with no
official plans to add it, either.
The absence of AMR-WB technology on
the Spanish companys network also affects
associated budget MVNO operators giffgaff
and Lycamobile, which both piggyback on
O2s network in the UK.
Supporting hardware
Network conflicts
Besides having to be on the right network
and using right handset, there is one main
barrier from preventing wideband audio
calls from becoming more prevalent. At
present, both parties must be subscribed
to the same mobile network.
So a telephone call between two 3
subscribers each using an iPhone 5, for
example, will benefit from the improved
sound quality of HD Voice. But if one caller
is with 3 and the other is using EE, the call
Most of todays Nokia Lumia models,
including the NOKIA LUMIA 1020
(below) all support wideband audio
28/08/2014 10:02
Other methods
Besides the traditional phone call over GSM,
there are other ways to enjoy better-thantelephone-quality voice chatting.
The most ubiquitous of all these choices
must be Skype, which, as well as allowing
familiar video conferencing, can also be used
with audio-only chat. Both of the popular iOS
and Android smartphone operating systems
include apps that allow voice chat as well as
video and IM. Microsoft also includes apps for
its Skype service from Windows phones.
The audio codec used by Skype is a
proprietary wideband compression system
it calls Silk thats been in use since 2009.
Like the codecs used in HD Voice, it adapts
to network conditions. With poorer/slower
broadband connections, Silk will drop to a
lower audio quality to maximise intelligibility
and reduce the chance of drop-outs that can
Better bandwidth
Note that despite the popularly used name
of HD Voice, the quality isnt actually highdefinition in the usual sense of better-thanCD quality. Its only used as a relative term
compared to the very limited bandwidth of
familiar narrowband telephony. But its a
significant step-up from the low-resolution
telephone sound weve had to endure ever
since Alexander Graham Bell first said to
Mr Watson Come here I want to see you
with the very first working acoustic telegraph
apparatus in 1876; which later gained the
altogether snappier name of telephone. J
28/08/2014 10:02
FEATURE
Android L vs iOS 8
Fancy a new mobile OS this autumn? Ashleigh Allsopp compares the latest offerings from Google and Apple as
she takes a look at whats in store for iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones and Android tablets later this year
Availability
Both iOS 8 and Android L will be released to
the public this autumn, but you dont have
to wait. There are ways to get your hands on
iOS 8 and Android L right now, though as
theyre both in beta or preview versions. Still,
its advisable not to install them on your main
device as theyre still work in progress.
Youll have to pay to join Apples developer
program if you want to start using iOS 8 (its
60 per year), but you can get your hands on
the beta version of Android L for free.
To run iOS 8, youll need an iPhone 4s
or later, iPad 2, iPad mini or later, and for
Android L; a Google Nexus 5 or Nexus 7.
Design
The design of iOS 8 is mostly unchanged
from that of iOS 7, which is no surprise as
it was iOS 7 that brought the major design
changes. iOS 8 has that flat design, ditching
all signs of skeuomorphism for minimalism.
Notifications
Lock screen
28/08/2014 09:54
Multitasking
Multitasking in iOS 7 was already pretty
good, but Apple has taken it a step further
by adding recent and favourite contacts to
the screen when you double click the home
button to access the multitasking menu.
These contacts appear in a handy list along
the top of your screen, to allow you to quickly
call, text or get in touch via FaceTime.
Android L brings multitasking to a new
level for its users, too. Now, open apps will
appear as cards in a carousel, which you can
browse through by sliding up or down on
the screen. To close a particular app, simply
swipe the card to the left or right.
Whats cool (and its something that iOS
cant do yet) is some apps will show multiple
cards depending on how youre using them.
For example, if youve got multiple tabs open
in Chrome, youll see each of them as an
individual card on the multitasking screen.
Security
Google has introduced a new personal
unlocking feature that will enable users to
unlock their smartphone or tablet without
entering their passcode, but only when
theyre close enough to a device such as
an Android Wear smartwatch.
Apple has its Touch ID fingerprint sensor,
which is built-in to the home button of the
iPhone 5s. In iOS 7, it was only able to unlock
the device or be used instead of entering
Apple ID details, but this will be opened up to
third-party developers with iOS 8 so users
will be able to use their fingerprint to access
other apps such as banking applications.
The wealth of new security features in
both Android L and iOS 8 wont be available
to everybody, of course. If you dont own an
iPhone 5s or an Android Wear smartwatch,
you wont be able to use them.
Battery life
We dont yet know exactly how Android L and
iOS 8 will affect the battery life of the devices
theyre running on, but both let you identify
how individual apps are draining power,
and to make improvements based on their
consumption. Android L has an additional
battery saving mode, which iOS 8 doesnt.
Google claims that the new battery-saving
mode bundled with Android L will give the
Nexus 5 about 90 minutes more battery life.
Wed like to see Apple seriously consider
introducing a similar feature in the next big
iOS update, as iPhones are notorious for
their less-than-stellar battery life.
28/08/2014 09:54
64-bit compatibility
Apple used last years iOS 7 to first introduce
64-bit compatibility to the operating system,
and that continues with iOS 8.
For Google, however, Android L represents
the first time the operating system has been
compatible with 64-bit devices. We expect to
see many more smartphones and tablets with
64-bit chips to emerge in the coming year
following the announcement. This should
mean speedier and smoother performance
and a big power boost for Android devices.
Handoff
Also new in iOS 8 is Handoff, a feature thats
going to be a huge bonus for anyone with
multiple Apple devices. Itll mean that, if
youve been writing an email on your way
home and have just got in the door, your Mac
will automatically ask whether youd like to
continue writing it on OS X instead. Its not
Compatibility
Another factor to take into consideration
when comparing these two upcoming updates
is compatibility. iOS 8 will be able to run on
the iPhone 4s or later, the iPad 2 or later and
both generations of iPad mini.
Those with Android devices might have
more trouble getting their hands on Android
L straight away. If you own a flagship phone
or tablet from Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony,
Motorola or any other big name brand, you
should get the update quite quickly. Everyone
with a Google Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 should
get access to Android L right away when its
released to the public.
HTC has said that HTC One M8 owners will
get Android L within 90 days of its release,
but weve not yet heard specific details from
any other manufacturers. J
28/08/2014 09:54
FEATURE
29/08/2014 15:46
Why is my
Wi-Fi so slow?
Andrew Harrison explores the reasons why your Wi-Fi is so
much slower than the router manufacturer promised you, and
how to make the most of what you can realistically achieve
29/08/2014 15:46
PART I: MANAGING
EXPECTATIONS
When it first appeared as a usable
commercial solution launched in 1999 by
Apple under the name AirPort 802.11b had
an advertised speed of 11Mb/s. Four years
later, and by now becoming more common
among Windows users, the latest wireless
data standard was 802.11g with an indicated
speed of 54Mb/s. Yet neither could come
close to transferring users data at those
nominal speeds. In the case of 11b, you would
have seen transfer rates at around 2Mb/s
while 11g could stretch to perhaps 20Mb/s.
Under even ideal wireless conditions, the
reasons for the shortfall are manifold,
but many are linked to the rather lossy
nature of wireless communications, and the
techniques used to ensure datas integrity
when it flies through the uncertain medium
that is the electromagnetic aether.
Half a duplex
Unlike most modern ethernet networks, Wi-Fi
is a half-duplex communication system that
can pass data in both directions (for example,
router-to-laptop as well as laptop-to-router),
but crucially, only in one direction at a time.
Its comparable to a walkie-talkie
radio system with push-to-talk (PTT)
communication: only one party can talk at
any one time, and they must sign off their
sentence with an over or other agreed
codeword to let the other party know they
can now use the open channel.
Wi-Fi is the same, with the additional
channel overhead created by a signal
that must be returned by the receiver to
acknowledge receipt of each small bundle
of data. The ACK packet is analogous to one
party in a walkie-talkie conversation saying
Roger that or I copy, to confirm they
received the packets intact and without
corruption. When more than one client device
is on the same wireless network, they must
share bandwidth and airtime with all the
Apples original AIRPORT had a
maximum transfer speed of 2Mb/s
29/08/2014 15:46
Channel dodging
The biggest source of radio interference
is often from Wi-Fi itself, with overlapping
base stations interfering with each other.
Try to ensure that the channel on which
your router is broadcasting and receiving is
as far away from other routers as is possible.
Using various software utilities available for
desktop Windows and Mac computers (with
one built-in for OS X for example), and also
for Android devices, you can scan the Wi-Fi
radio bands and see what devices are already
on any particular channel.
Check each devices received signal
strength if its at a significantly lower level
(as measured in dBm) you may be able to
set your channel close to it without suffering
much data-slowing interference.
29/08/2014 15:46
Screening effect
Be mindful of what lies between your mobile
device and the wireless router. Wi-Fi works
in the microwave part of the radio spectrum
and is severely reduced by metal and water.
A mirror hanging on the wall is a potential
screen, as is your own body, made from at
least 60 percent water.
But one of the best ways to improve Wi-Fi
performance is to ensure you have the best
available stream setup on both your router
and the receiving device.
Most laptop manufacturers
dont advertise the Wi-Fi
configuration inside, but for
both the established 802.11n
and the emerging 802.11ac
systems, the radio system can
use one, two or three independent
aerials. These work together to
form a multiple-in/multiple-out
(MIMO) system which can greatly
enhance performance.
Similarly, wireless router
can be equipped with one,
two or three antennas.
When mounted
externally, their
01/09/2014 13:54
FEATURE
Manage your
money online
If youre always struggling to make ends meet and your bank account is constantly overdrawn, an online
money manager can help organise your finances. Roland Waddilove examines the available options
Money Dashboard
Money Dashboard (tinyurl.com/Lgonyh4) is
free and quick to set up. It requires one or
more bank or credit card accounts to work
with, including HSBC, NatWest, Barclays,
Lloyds and Halifax. Enter your login details
and it reads your account details and
transaction history. The dashboard provides
28/08/2014 17:47
OnTrees
27/08/2014 17:38
Your Wealth
The brilliantly titled Your Wealth (tinyurl.com/
me669yg) is different to many other money
managers. Its free if you want to manually
set it up, but it costs 9.99 a year to integrate
your bank accounts. The site is bright,
colourful and uses large text and buttons.
Unlike the other money managers, theres
plenty of information you can add and
analyse with the free service, and you start
with sources of income. All of your regular
payments like a mortgage, utility bills and
so on must be manually added. Spending
limits for various activities like entertainment,
groceries, home, travel and other categories
can then be set.
Finally, a savings goal can be added,
so that you can see how your finances are
progressing towards saving for an expensive
item, like a new car. After adding a few
transactions, you can begin to explore
features like Your Spending. This shows the
total spend so far, your budget limit, and your
LoveMoney
amount left to spend. You can see whether
spending categories are on target, as well as
how much money youll have in the future.
The Tools and Calculators section of Your
Wealth is excellent, and its worth getting a
free account just for this alone with four tax,
six mortgage, and three pensions calculators.
A loan calculator shows how youll repay, and
theres a life insurance cover calculator, too.
These are all excellent and available for free.
The iOS and Android apps are both great, too.
Score: 3/5
Toshl
Toshl (tinyurl.com/7vc8wvd) doesnt
have access to your bank, credit card and
other financial accounts, which puts it at a
disadvantage compared to the others, but its
modern design and support for Android and
iOS apps makes it fun to use. Toshl can be
accessed on the web by phone or tablet, and
it simply records whatever you put into it. For
example, you can enter sources of income,
Conclusion
27/08/2014 17:38
HELPROOM
PAUL
MONCKTON
WINDOWS 9
WINDOWS 9
27/08/2014 17:26
ELDERLY ADVICE
27/08/2014 17:30
27/08/2014 17:27
27/08/2014 17:27
SEARCH THE
PC ADVISOR FREE
ONLINE HELPROOM
CONTACT US
Email your Helproom questions to
helproom@pcadvisor.co.uk. Please
use Helproom as the subject header
and give your full name, the operating
system youre using and other product
details. We will let you know by email
if your query has been selected for
inclusion in these pages. If your query is
urgent, you may find it useful to visit our
forum at pcadvisor.co.uk/helproom.
Helproom aims to give you the best
assistance possible. But, given the
27/08/2014 17:27
27/08/2014 17:10
HOW TO
27/08/2014 17:07
Sync calendars
One way to make an appointment appear in both Google and
Outlook calendars is to invite yourself by entering your email
address when creating a new event. You create a meeting with
yourself, so in Google Calendar you would invite yourself by
adding your Outlook or Outlook.com email address.
Outlook adds a calendar invitation from Google as an
unconfirmed event. You can leave it like this or click the Accept
button in the email. Outlook.com doesnt automatically add
invitations to the calendar and you have to click Accept in the email.
You can manually accept emailed invitations sent from
Outlook/Outlook.com to Google Calendar in Gmail, but there is a
better way. Click the gear button in Google Calendar and select
Settings. On the General tab theres an option to automatically
add invitations to your calendar.
If you dont want to use invitations to sync calendars, there
are utilities that sync Google and Outlook calendars. At the time
of writing, some of these are still in beta (pre-final) form, but full
versions may be available by the time you read this.
27/08/2014 17:07
HOW TO
Now youll see a list of the different types of emails that you
can use for your campaign. At the top of the list is Regular Ol
Campaign, which is a standard HTML format that can incorporate
template designs. Click on this to continue.
27/08/2014 16:57
Now you can start to put together your cool new email.
Either choose a simple template and assemble your own from
scratch, or browse through the wide range of free themes, which
include relevant images. Well choose a template for now.
The text and pictures on each email can be changed now via
the editor. Simply hover the pointer over each area to reveal
the options. Theres also the menu on the right that allows fine
tuning of general formatting. Try replacing some of the details now.
When youre happy with your creation, its a good idea to get
a proper look at it. Click on Preview and Test > Enter Preview
Mode, then check if all the details, and spellings, are correct. You
can also see how it will appear on a mobile phone.
10
11
27/08/2014 16:57
HOW TO
Reinstall Windows 7
Is your PC crawling along? Or not
working? Reinstalling Windows could
be the answer. Mike Bedford explains
how you can make it as good as new
Its a fact of life that PCs get slower with age. However,
reinstalling Windows will restore your computer to its former
glory. Reinstallation might also be the only solution if your PC
refuses to boot, system restore wont work, and youve been able
to discount any hardware fault. Its also necessary if you decide
to swap your hard disk for an SSD (see tinyurl.com/pwby3yv).
Here well show you how to reinstall Windows 7 from a DVD.
Some PCs allow you to reinstall Windows from a separate
recovery hard disk partition and, in that case, you should follow
the manufacturers instructions. Alternatively, see our guide to
reinstalling Windows without a disc at tinyurl.com/qa9b2fy.
Reinstalling Windows will result in all the data being lost from
your hard disk, so its essential to make a copy of everything
you want to keep. Depending on the size of backup, you could
use a stack of DVDs or an external (or networked) hard drive .
Shut down your PC, put the Windows disc in the CD/DVD slot
and start it up. All being well, it should boot from this disk. If
it boots to Windows normally, youll have to use the BIOS menus to
make your PC boot from a disk see tinyurl.com/pjt5x3p for details.
Windows Setup will start and, on the first screen you should
specify your preferred language, time and currency format,
and the nationality of your keyboard. Youll also be shown a screen
on which youre required to agree to the licence conditions.
27/08/2014 17:12
Now, using the backup you created in Step 1, copy all your files
back onto your PC. Youll probably also want to select your
favourite wallpaper at this point too, and make all the other changes
necessary to customise your PC exactly the way you like it. J
10
11
27/08/2014 17:12
HOW TO
27/08/2014 17:00
Select a file in the Public folder and click Share at the top.
There are options to invite people, get a link, or publish to
Facebook. We will use Get a link. You can choose whether people
can view the file or edit it. Its your choice.
Through PCs on the left, you can access the disk drive of any
PC you own running OneDrive. This is Chrome on a Windows
8 PC accessing the Pictures folder on an Apple Mac running
Windows 7 in Bootcamp.
11
10
27/08/2014 17:00
HOW TO
Set up a Raspberry Pi
You dont need an engineering degree
to build a robot army. As Alex Campbell
reveals, with the Raspberry Pi B+, you
can create robots on the cheap
The 30 Raspberry Pi B+ is a credit card-sized computer. The
darling of the DIY electronics crowd, it was originally designed to
teach kids computer and programming skills, but its since been
used to create everything from robots to home media centres.
The device has four USB ports, HDMI video and a host of
other peripherals. The latest version, the B+, comes with 512MB
of RAM and uses a microSD card.
Most people install a Linux distribution called Raspbian on to
the SD cards needed to boot the Pi. This is a version of Debian
Linux (the distribution Ubuntu is based on), designed specifically
for use on the Pi. Its also recommended for new Pi users to
familiarise themselves with the device and the Linux operating
system. If the big L-word scares you, rest easy knowing that
Raspbian Raspberry Pi
Yield: one web-ready Raspberry Pi B+
Processing time: about 20 minutes
Prep time: about 20 minutes
Before you start, gather everything you require in one place:
1x Raspberry Pi B+, bare
1x USB mouse
1x USB keyboard
1x ethernet cable
1x monitor with HDMI (preferred) or DVI input
1x HDMI-to-DVI adaptor (optional)
1x USB cable with Micro-USB connector and wall adaptor
1x 8GB microSD card with standard SD adaptor
Windows PC with SD card reader and internet connection
On the Windows PC, download Win32 Disk Imager
from tinyurl.com/ouqgnjx and a copy of Raspbian from
RaspberryPi.org. Set aside time for these downloads to finish.
Win32 Disk Imager should take about 30 seconds to download
on a fast connection, while Raspbian will take around 12 minutes.
Link the other end of the ethernet cable with your home router
and the other end of the HDMI cable to your monitor.
Insert the SD card adaptor into the PCs SD card reader and
start Win32 Disk Imager as an administrator. Click the folder
icon to browse for the Raspbian IMG file, click the drop-down menu
under Device and select the appropriate drive letter for the SD
card. Click Write and let the program run for about 7- to 8 minutes.
When Win32 Disk Imager is finished writing, click OK and Exit.
Remove the SD card from your PC and pull out the microSD
card from the SD card adaptor. Insert the microSD card into
the Raspberry Pi until it clicks securely.
8
9
Plug USB power cable into the wall and into the Raspberry Pi
to boot the computer.
10
11
12
Once the graphical environment starts, youre good to go. While the
Pi can handle web applications such as Google Apps, dont expect
desktop-like performance. Remember its running desktop software
on really cheap hardware meant for mobile phones.
Raspbian comes preloaded with the Midori web browser. To
install another browser, youll have to use a couple of commands
with console program apt. But first, youll have to update the list
of packages available to apt. Type or paste the following into a
console window: sudo apt-get update. Next, open up a terminal
and type sudo apt-get install <package name> to install the
appropriate software package.
Once you feel at home with Raspbian, you can try writing
programs for the Raspberry Pi using Python, or try your hand at
other distributions like Pidora or the Pi version of Arch Linux. J
27/08/2014 17:04
Driver installation
Potential issues
27/08/2014 17:02
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System requirements
PCA
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Avira Antivirus Pro includes network
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Tech support included
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22/08/2014 10:48
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22/08/2014 10:48
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disk space; 1280x800
screen resolution;
internet connection
Features
One-Click-Optimization for
unique pictures
New image viewer with explorerlike navigation
Before/after effect in real-time
Red-eye correction
Amazing effects for your images
one by one or batch processed
Individually positioned watermarks
Colour correction with adjustable
values
Optimise multiple pictures at
once by batch processing entire
photo collections
Convert your images to different
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Image aging, and much more J
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If your disc is missing or faulty, please visit pcadvisor.co.uk/cd/replacement to request a replacement. The code for Novembers disc is PCA1114DISC. Please allow 14 days for delivery. Other FAQs are answered at pcadvisor.co.uk/cd/faq.
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22/08/2014 10:48
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22/08/2014 10:20
TOP5CHARTS
TEST CENTRE
PC Advisors charts rank and rate the best products every month. If youre looking
to buy the latest and greatest kit, look no further than our 100-plus reviews
Ultraportable laptops
Sub-500 laptops
1,001+ laptops
Tablets
Smartphones
All-in-one PCs
Business PCs
Family PCs
Blu-ray drives
Wireless routers
Printers
Projectors
Solid-state drives
Graphics cards
Flat-panel displays
Index
Prices
Laptops
Sub-500 laptops........................................128
501-1,000 laptops ...................................129
1,001+ laptops ............................................130
Tablets.............................................................131
Smartphones ................................................132
Gaming PCs...................................................133
Laptops up to 500
501 to 1,000
1,001 and over
Printers
Printers under 150
151 and over
Graphics cards
Flat-panels
Flat-panels under 200
201 and over
Solid-state drives.........................................143
Projectors......................................................143
Graphics cards ............................................. 144
Flat-panel displays ..................................... 145
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Ultraportable
laptops
HP Spectre 13-3010ea
Toshiba Kira-101
Price
Website
Apple.com/uk
Apple.com/uk
Hp.com/uk
toshiba.co.uk
Acer.co.uk
Launch date
Feb 14
Apr 14
Sep 14
Aug 14
Jun 14
Processor
RAM
8GB DDR3L
4GB DDR3L
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
Storage
512GB SSD
128GB SSD
256GB SSD
256GB SSD
500GB Hybrid
Screen size
13.3in glossy
13.3in glossy
Screen resolution
2560x1600
1440x900
1920x1080
2560x1440
1920x1080
Graphics
Video memory
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1GB
Wireless
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n
Ethernet
Optional
Optional
None
None
10/100
Bluetooth
USB
2x USB 3.0
2x USB 3.0
2x USB 3.0
3x USB 3.0
FireWire
Thunderbolt
DisplayPort
HDMI
DVI
VGA
eSATA
Audio
Optical drive
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Extras
HD webcam, multitouch
trackpad, backlit keyboard
HD webcam, multitouch
trackpad, backlit keyboard
1080p webcam
720p webcam
None
Operating system
Bundled software
iLife 11
iLife 11
None
None
Acer bundle
Not tested
Not tested
17fps (1080p)
62/34.5fps
Battery
71.8Wh lithium-polymer
54Wh lithium-polymer
51Wh lithium-ion
52Wh lithium-polymer
36.4Wh lithium-polymer
Battery life
9 hrs 55 mins
12 hrs 57 mins
7 hrs 30 mins
7 hrs 10 mins
5 hrs
PC Mark 7 score
Not tested
4602
5006
5100
4282
Dimensions
314x219x18mm
325x227x4-17.5mm
324x220x15mm
316x207x19.8mm
324x255x18mm
Weight
1.57kg
1.35kg
1.52kg
1.26kg
1.65kg
Warranty
1-year return-to-base
1-year return-to-base
2 year return-to-base
2-year onsite
1-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
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Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:10
Top 5 charts
Sub-500
laptops
Asus X102BA
HP Pavilion TouchSmart 15
Toshiba CB30-102
Asus X552CL
Price
Website
Asus.com/uk
Hp.com/uk
Toshiba.co.uk
Toshiba.co.uk
Asus.com/uk
Launch date
May 14
May 14
Jul 14
Jun 14
Jun 14
Processor
RAM
4GB DDR3L
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
2GB DDR3
6GB DDR3
Storage
500GB HDD
750GB HDD
1TB HDD
16GB SSD
750GB HDD
Screen size
15.6in glossy
13.3in glossy
15.6in glossy
Screen resolution
1366x768
1366x768
1366x768
1366x768
1366x768
Graphics
GT 740M/Intel HD 4400
Intel HD Graphics
Video memory
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1GB
Wireless
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11a/g/n
802.11b/g/n
Ethernet
10/100
10/100
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Bluetooth
USB
2x USB 3.0
2x USB 3.0
FireWire
Thunderbolt
DisplayPort
HDMI
DVI
VGA
eSATA
Audio
Optical drive
None
8x DVDRW
N/A
None
8x DVDRW
Webcam
Webcam
Webcam
Webcam
Webcam
Operating system
Windows 8 64-bit
Windows 8 64-bit
Google Chrome OS
Windows 8 64bit
Bundled software
None
None
None
None
Battery
33Wh lithium-ion
60fps (720)
52Wh lithium-ion
Lithium-polymer
37Wh lithium-ion
Battery life
4 hrs 20 mins
41Wh lithium-ion
4 hrs 15 mins
7 hrs 25 mins
3 hrs 20 mins
PC Mark 7 score
1100
5 hrs 45 mins
2500
N/A
2700
Stalker (Low/High)
N/A
2860
23fps (720p)
N/A
50fps (720p)
Dimensions
266x185x29mm
386x258x25mm
380x260x24mm
454x268x56mm
380x251x34mm
Weight
1.1kg
2.6kg
2.2kg
1.5kg
2.4kg
Warranty
1-year return-to-base
1-year return-to-base
2-year return-to-base
1-year return-to-base
1-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
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Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
Extras
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
501-1,000
laptops
Chillblast Helium
Price
Website
3xs.scan.co.uk
Dell.co.uk
Chillblast.com
Chillblast.com
Toshiba.co.uk
Launch date
Jul 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Mar 14
Processor
RAM
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
Storage
1TB SSHD
1TB SSHD
500GB HDD
Screen size
15.6in matt
17.3in glossy
13.3in non-reflective
14in
13.3in matt
Screen resolution
1920x1080
1920x1080
1920x1080
1600x900
1366x768
Graphics
GT 750M/Intel HD 4400
Video memory
2GB
2GB
2GB
N/A
N/A
Wireless
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n
802.11a/b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n/ac
Ethernet
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Bluetooth
USB
4x USB 3.0
2x USB 3.0
2x USB 3.0
3x USB 3.0
FireWire
Thunderbolt
DisplayPort
HDMI
DVI
VGA
eSATA
Audio
Optical drive
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Extras
1080p webcam
720p webcam
1080p webcam
720p webcam
2Mp webcam
Operating system
Bundled software
None
None
None
None
None
Stalker (720p/1080p)
178/102fps
104/63fps
180/100fps
29fps (720p)
25fps (720p)
Battery
77Wh lithium-ion
58Wh lithium-ion
62.2Wh lithium-ion
44.6Wh lithium-ion
66Wh lithium-ion
Battery life
4 hours
5 hrs
5 hrs 33 mins
5 hrs 20 mins
8 hrs 4 mins
PCMark 7 score
4846
4260
4456
5100
2660
Dimensions
374x250x43mm
412x269x28mm
330x227x32mm
337x236x21mm
316x227x27mm
Weight
2.7kg
3.3kg
2.1kg
2.1kg
1.5kg
Warranty
2-year return-to-base
1-year NBD
2-year collect-and-return
1-year return-to-base
3-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
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TINYURL.COM/K9Y86QS
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Dell XPS 15
Asus G750JZ
Alienware 17
Price
Website
Uk.gigabyte.com
Mysn.co.uk
Dell.co.uk
Asus.com/uk
Alienware.co.uk
Launch date
Jul 14
Jul 14
Sep 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Processor
RAM
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
Storage
250GB SSD
512GB SSD
1TB/256GB SSD
Screen size
15.6in matt
13.3in matt
15.6in gloss
17.3in matt
17.3in anti-glare
Screen resolution
1920x1080
1920x1080
3200x1800
1920x1080
1920x1080
Graphics
Video memory
6GB
2GB
2GB
4GB
8GB
Wireless
802.11a/b/g/n
802.11b/g/n/ac
802.11b/g/n/ac
802.11a/g/n
802.11b/g/n
Ethernet
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Bluetooth
USB
4x USB 3.0
4x USB 3.0
FireWire
Thunderbolt
DisplayPort
(mini)
HDMI
DVI
VGA
eSATA
Audio
Optical drive
N/A
None
N/A
N/A
None
Extras
720p webcam
720p webcam
720p webcam
720p webcam
720p webcam
Operating system
Bundled software
None
None
None
None
None
Stalker (720p/1080p)
185/122fps
115fps (1080p)
68fps (1080)
182/135fps
150fps (1080)
Battery
75.8Wh lithium-polymer
62Wh lithium-ion
91Wh lithium-ion
88Wh lithium-ion
86Wh lithium-ion
Battery life
4 hrs
5 hrs 5 mins
5 hrs
4 hrs 32 mins
4 hrs 20 mins
PCMark7 score
6226
5500
5833
5929
5600
Dimensions
385x270x21mm
374x250x37mm
372x254x18mm
410x318x58mm
414x299x48.5mm
Weight
2.5kg
2kg
2kg
4.5kg
4.2kg
Warranty
2-year return-to-base
2-year collect-and-return
2-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
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TINYURL.COM/Q6DUD64
1,001+ laptops
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Tablets
Price
Website
Play.google.com
Samsung.com/uk
Apple.com/uk
Samsung.com/uk
Sony.co.uk
Launch date
Jul 13
Aug 14
Oct 13
Aug 14
Apr 14
Platform
Apple iOS 7
Screen size/resolution
7in/1280x800
8.4in/2560x1600
9.7in/2048x1536
10.5in/2560x1600
10.1in/1920x1200
16GB/32GB
16GB/none
16GB/32GB
16GB/none
Overall rating
802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4
802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4
802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4
Processor
Exynos 5
Apple A7
Exynos 5420
RAM
2GB
3GB
1GB
3GB
3GB
9 hrs
12 hrs
10 hrs
Not specified
Not specified
Cameras (front/rear)
1.2/5Mp
2.1/8Mp
1.2/5Mp
2.1/8Mp
2.2/8.1Mp
Dimensions
114x200x8.7mm
126x213x6.6mm
169x240x7.5mm
247x177x6.6mm
266x172x6.4mm
Weight
299g
294g
469g
465g
439g
Warranty
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
FULL REVIEW
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TINYURL.COM/M8BZZUN
Tablets
10
LG G Pad 8.3
Price
Website
Apple.com/uk
Play.google.com
Sony.co.uk
Lg.com/uk
Currys.co.uk
Launch date
Nov 12
Nov 12
May 13
Feb 14
Nov 13
Platform
Apple iOS 7
Screen size/resolution
7.9in/1024x768
10.1in/2560x1600
10.1in/1920x1200
8.3in/1920x1200
7in/1280x800
16GB/none
16GB/microSDXC
16GB/microSDHC
16GB/microSDHC
Overall rating
802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4
Processor
1GHz Apple A5
RAM
512MB
2GB
2GB
2GB
1GB
10 hrs
9 hrs
10 hrs
10 hrs
Cameras (front/rear)
1.2/5Mp
1.9/5Mp
2.2/8.1Mp
1.3/5Mp
0.3/5Mp
Dimensions
135x200x7.2mm
178x264x8.9mm
172x266x6.9mm
127x217x8.3mm
120x190x10mm
Weight
308g
603g
495g
338g
320g
Warranty
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
FULL REVIEW
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22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
LG G3
LG G2
Google Nexus 5
OnePlus One
Price
Website
Lg.com/uk
Lg.com/uk
Htc.com/uk
Play.google.com
Oneplus.net/uk
Launch date
Jun 14
Sep 13
Apr 14
Oct 13
Jul 14
Platform
CyanogenMod 11S
Processor
2.5GHz Qualcomm
16GB/none
16GB/microSD
16GB/none
16GB/none
Smartphones
Overall rating
5.2in/1440x2560
5.2in/1920x1080
5in/1920x1080
4.95in/1920x1080
5.5in/1920x1080
Screen type
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Connectivity
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
17 hrs/300 hrs
Not specified
Cameras (front/rear)
GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS, Glonass
A-GPS
Glonass
Dimensions, weight
75x146x8.9mm, 149g
71x139x9.4mm, 143g
146.4x70.6x9.4mm, 160g
69x138x8.9mm, 130g
152.9x75.9x8.9mm, 162g
Warranty
1 year
1 year
2 years
1 year
Not specified
FULL REVIEW
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Smartphones
10
Sony Xperia Z2
Sony Xperia Z1
Apple iPhone 5s
Price
Website
Sonymobile.com
Sonymobile.com
Htc.com/uk
Sonymobile.com
Apple.com/uk
Launch date
May 14
Jan 14
Jul 14
Jul 13
Sep 13
Platform
Apple iOS 7
Processor
2.3GHz Qualcomm
1.2GHz Qualcomm
1.3GHz Apple A7
16GB/microSDXC
16GB/microSD
16GB/microSDXC
16GB/none
Overall rating
5.2in/1920x1080
4.3in/1280x720
4.5in/1280x720
5in/1920x1080
4in/640x1136
Screen type
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Capacitive multitouch
Connectivity
17 hrs/740 hrs
18 hrs/670 hrs
Not specified
14 hrs/880 hrs
10 hrs/250 hrs
Cameras (front/rear)
GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS
A-GPS, Glonass
Dimensions, weight
146.8x73.3x8.2mm, 163g
127x64.9x9.5mm, 137g
137x65x10.6mm, 137g
144x74x8.5mm, 169g
59x124x7.6mm, 112g
Warranty
1 year
1 year
2 years
1 year
1 year
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/NXB5SWV
TINYURL.COM/KAU7DYR
TINYURL.COM/M6U427B
TINYURL.COM/NJPM4DE
TINYURL.COM/MZ8JHLF
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Gladiator Firestorm OC
Price
Website
Chillblast.com
Chillblast.com
Gladiatorpc.co.uk
Cyberpowersystem.co.uk
Computerplanet.co.uk
Launch date
Feb 14
Jul 14
Mar 14
Feb 14
Mar 14
Processor
CPU cooler
Memory
16GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
Storage
2TB HDD
Power supply
750W Corsair
750W Corsair
500W Corsair
750W Corsair
450W Corsair
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-Z87N-Wi-Fi
Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3
Gigabyte GA-Z87N-Wi-Fi
Operating system
Screen
None supplied
None supplied
None supplied
Graphics
Sound
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Connectivity
Gigabit ethernet
Low-lag ethernet
Gigabit ethernet
Ports
Optical drive
24x DVDRW
DVDRW, BD-ROM
None supplied
Case
Cooler Master
Dominator 690 III
None
None
None
Other
None
None
None
None
PC Mark 7 score
6965
6852
5124
6731
5508
169/93fps
173/97
103/54fps
172/96fps
103/54fps
218/96fps
N/A
N/A
167/87fps
N/A
Sniper Elite V2
(Low/High/Ultra)
308/187/49fps
321/164/42
194/81.6/18.6fps
352/155/39fps
261/119/29fps
Power Consumption
52/407W
67W/386W
70W/166W
68/484W
53W/271W
Warranty
2-year collect-and-return
2-year collect-and-return
4-year return-to-base
3-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/OWQ24QQ
TINYURL.COM/MEGK9O9
TINYURL.COM/PKDV2NG
TINYURL.COM/NKWN7V4
TINYURL.COM/MJZKS7G
Gaming PCs
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Price
Website
yoyotech.co.uk
chillblast.com
meshcomputers.com
dinopc.com
quietpc.co.uk
Launch date
Mar 14
Mar 14
Mar 14
Mar 14
Mar 14
Processor
CPU cooler
RAM
Storage
Power supply
Motherboard
Asus Z871-Pro
Asus H811-PLUS
Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI
Gigabyte H87N-WIFI
Operating system
Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1
Graphics
Networking
Gigabit ethernet,
802.11n Wi-Fi
Gigabit ethernet,
802.11n Wi-Fi
Gigabit ethernet,
802.11n Wi-Fi
2x gigabit ethernet,
802.11n Wi-Fi
Gigabit ethernet,
802.11n Wi-Fi
USB ports
Other ports
3x DVI, 2x HDMI, 2x
DisplayPort, eSATA
Optical drive
Pioneer BDR-S07XLT
Blu-ray writer
Optional
Optional
Case
Silverstone RVZ01
None
Logitech MK520
None
None
None
PCMark 8 score
6403
6334
6678
6861
6403
127/68
104/56
186/104
121/65
127/68
303/161/40
263/124/31
387/169/43
313/150/38
303/161/40
200/76
155/63
183/94
220/81
200/76
Power consumption
(idle/max)
49/330W
39/278W
54/548W
71/384W
49/330W
Warranty
2-year collect-and-return
(5-year labour)
3-year collect-and-return
3-year return-to-base
(2-year parts, 3-year labour) (1-year parts, 3-year labour)
2-year collect-and-return
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/MQ8POPQ
TINYURL.COM/NFQ6EGO
TINYURL.COM/PWCACV2
TINYURL.COM/O4QDH7Y
Mini PCs
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
TINYURL.COM/MXMJ6QT
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:11
Top 5 charts
Price
Website
Dell.co.uk
Apple.com/uk
Medion.com/gb
Chillblast.com
Uk.msi.com
Launch date
Sep 13
Sep 13
Sep 13
Sep 13
Sep 13
Processor
RAM
16GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
Storage
1TB HDD
1TB HDD
1TB HDD
Screen
27in IPS
23.6in TN
27in TN touchscreen
Screen resolution
2560x1440
2560x1440
1920x1080
1920x1080
1920x1080
Graphics card
Video memory
2GB
1GB
N/A
N/A
2GB
Wireless
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
802.11b/g/n
Ethernet
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Gigabit
Bluetooth
USB
6x USB 3.0
4x USB 3.0
FireWire
Thunderbolt
HDMI
Optical drive
None
DVD drive
Other
Operating system
Windows 8
Windows 8
Windows 8
Windows 8
Power consumption
(idle/max)
54/84/220W
53/84/243W
34/42/92W
32/40/119W
44/53/110W
Sniper V2 Elite
(Low/High/Ultra)
6/25/94fps
12/54/197fps
5/5/16fps
5/7/28fps
5/6/17fps
PCMark 7 score
6091
4141
3298
5195
3138
Dimensions
492x664x72mm
650x203x516mm
580x196x430-460mm
338x541x61mm
672x483x66mm
Weight
16kg
9.5kg
10.3kg
9kg
13kg
Warranty
1-year return-to-base
1-year return-to-base
2-year collect-and-return
2-year collect-and-return
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/KWZ4KLL
TINYURL.COM/A95Q9VY
TINYURL.COM/MEVSJ9D
TINYURL.COM/LQ4U8FW
TINYURL.COM/MUGFKQ7
All-in-one PCs
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:12
Top 5 charts
Business PCs
Price
Website
Aria.co.uk
Chillblast.com
Wired2fire.co.uk
Dinopc.com
Eclipsecomputers.com
Launch date
Aug 13
Aug 13
Aug 13
Aug 13
Aug 13
Processor
RAM
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
Storage
1TB HDD
120GB SSD
1TB HDD
1TB HDD
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H
Asus B85M-G
ASRock B85M-HDS
Gigabyte GA-H87M-HD3
Asus F2A85-M LE
CPU cooler
Power supply
Corsair 430W
CiT 500W
Xigmatek 400W
CiT 500W
Alpine 600W
Screen
Screen resolution
1920x1080
1920x1080
1920x1080
1920x1080
1920x1080
Graphics
Integrated
Video memory
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
USB
Sound
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Speakers
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Case
CiT Fortress
In-Win Em040
CiT Templar
K2 Gamer
Keyboard
Optical drive
24x DVDRW
24x DVDRW
DVDRW
Samsung DVDRW
Samsung DVDRW
Operating system
Windows 7 Home
Premium 64-bit
Windows 8 Professional
Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
Windows 7 Home
Premium 64-bit
Windows 8 Professional
Bundled software
None
None
None
None
None
3524
4257
5667
3458
2349
PCMark 7
Productivity score
4056
2685
5929
2529
1883
PCMark 7
Computational score
3321
21490
13651
9377
3899
Power consumption
(idle/max)
27/69W
47/124W
37/135W
37/115W
34/145W
Warranty
1-year return-to-base,
phone support
2-year collect-and-return,
phone support
2-year return-to-base,
phone support
3-year return-to-base,
phone support
1-year return-to-base,
phone support
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/OSW55A8
TINYURL.COM/KGGE98T
TINYURL.COM/PCSKWVS
TINYURL.COM/PF8LUXD
TINYURL.COM/MQFWJ3R
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:12
02/09/2014 12:42
02/09/2014 12:20
Top 5 charts
Price
Website
Chillblast.com
Wired2fire.co.uk
Meshcomputers.com
Dinopc.com
Arbico.co.uk
Launch date
Jul 13
May 14
May 14
May 14
May 14
Processor
RAM
16GB DDR3
Storage
1TB HDD
Motherboard
Asus B85M-G
Asus B85M-G
MSI B85M-E45
Gigabyte H97M-D3H
MSI B85M-E45
CPU cooler
Power supply
600W CiT
500W FSP
500W FSP
500W CIT
Screen
Screen resolution
1920x1080
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
Graphics
Video memory
N/A
2GB
2GB
2GB
2GB
Connectivity
802.11b/g/n,
gigabit ethernet
Gigabit ethernet
Gigabit ethernet
Gigabit ethernet,
802.11b/g/n
Gigabit ethernet
USB
None
None
None
None
None
Sound
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Onboard
Speakers
2x Logitech LS220
None
None
None
None
Case
Zalman Z3 Plus
Zalman Z3 Plus
CIT Templar
Keyboard
Logitech MK260
Logitech MK120
Optical drive
LG BD-ROM/DVDRW
LiteOn DVD RW
24x DVD RW
None
Samsung DVD RW
Operating system
Windows 8 64-bit
Bundled software
None
None
None
None
147/59/14fps
240/76/18fps
195/68/16fps
196/83/20fps
62/22/5fps
52/27fps
83/44fps
71/37fps
102/53fps
22/11fps
PCMark 7 score
6177
3938
7304
6431
4800
Warranty
2-year collect-and-return
2-year return-to-base
2-year return-to-base
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/KF6G3T7
TINYURL.COM/OA8UKDP
TINYURL.COM/OZCSHYU
TINYURL.COM/PFA55F7
TINYURL.COM/NU7FSGB
Family PCs
Build rating
Features rating
Performance rating
Value rating
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:12
Top 5 charts
Sub-150
printers
Brother MFC-J870DW
Price
99 inc VAT
65 inc VAT
59 inc VAT
70 inc VAT
Website
Samsung.com/uk
Canon.co.uk
Samsung.com/uk
Canon.co.uk
Brother.co.uk
Launch date
Mar 14
Apr 14
Aug 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Technology
Mono laser
Colour inkjet
Mono laser
Colour inkjet
Colour inkjet
1200x1200
4800x1200dpi
1200x1200dpi
4800x1200dpi
6000x1200dpi
B=17.1ppm
B=11.8ppm C=8.7ppm
B=18ppm
B=9.7ppm C=3.8ppm
B=18ppm C=11ppm
Scan/fax facilities
1200x1200 scans
1200x2400 scans
None
1200x2400 scans/fax
1200x2400 scans
Supported interfaces
B=3.8p
B=2.4p C=4.8p
B=5p
B=2.7p C=4.8p
B=3.9p C=2.5p
Input capacity
150 sheets
100 sheets
150 sheets
Dimensions
406x360x253mm
455x369x148mm
332x215x178mm
458x385x200mm
410x374x180mm
Weight
7.4kg
6.3kg
4kg
8.5kg
9.5kg
Warranty
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/OYZKJKE
TINYURL.COM/LKWLJDE
TINYURL.COM/NFJHDOR
TINYURL.COM/N9LXVN7
TINYURL.COM/M52V29R
Overall rating
151+ printers
Brother HL-L9200CDWT
Lexmark CS410dn
Price
Website
Canon.co.uk
Brother.co.uk
Hp.com/uk
Kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk
Lexmark.co.uk
Launch date
May 14
Aug 14
Aug 13
Jul 14
Jul 14
Technology
Mono laser
Colour laser
Colour inkjet
Colour laser
Colour laser
1200x600dpi
2400x600dpi
2400x2400
9600x600dpi
1200x1200dpi
B=24ppm
B=30ppm C=30ppm
B=42.9ppm C=15.8ppm
B=27ppm C=27ppm
B=23.1ppm C=13.6ppm
Scan/fax facilities
None
None
None
Supported interfaces
USB 2.0, ethernet, 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0, ethernet, 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0, ethernet, 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0
B=1.5p
B=1p C=5.9p
B=1p C=4.3p
B=1.2p C=1.7p
B=1.8p C=9.5p
Input capacity
500 + 50 sheet
250 + 1 sheets
Dimensions
390x473x431mm
410x495x445mm
517x399x414mm
345x518x480mm
291x442x407mm
Weight
19.1kg
28.3kg
17.1kg
29.5kg
20.5kg
Warranty
1 year
1 year
1 year
2 years
1 year
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/LE9WA5N
TINYURL.COM/PT52MH6
TINYURL.COM/CZO5P65
TINYURL.COM/N4MCYLF
TINYURL.COM/MJG33UL
Overall rating
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:12
Top 5 charts
LG LN48919
LG BP40NS20
Lite-On IHES112-115
Price
59 inc VAT
54 inc VAT
60 inc VAT
90 inc VAT
54 inc VAT
Website
Pioneer.eu/uk
Pioneer.eu/uk
Uk.lge.com
Uk.lge.com
Liteonit.eu
Launch date
Nov 13
Nov 13
May 12
Jan 13
Oct 12
Blu-ray speeds
6x -R, 6x -R DL,
2x -RE, 6x -ROM
12x -ROM
DVD speeds
Max storage
128GB
50GB
50GB
100GB
8.5GB
Interface type
SATA (internal)
SATA (internal)
SATA (internal)
SATA (internal)
Label technology
None
None
LightScribe
None
None
Software
None
PowerDVD, PowerProducer
None
Dimensions
148x180x42mm
148x180x42mm
146x170x41mm
160x153x22mm
158x145x22mm
Weight
740g
740g
749g
380g
700g
Warranty
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
2 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/LD47X7K
TINYURL.COM/LD47X7K
TINYURL.COM/8YTUJEF
TINYURL.COM/BS8UAFF
TINYURL.COM/8SYECMW
Blu-ray drives
Overall rating
Wireless
routers
TP-Link Archer C7
TP-Link TL-WDR4900
Price
80 inc VAT
80 inc VAT
Website
Apple.com/uk
Fritzbox.eu
Tp-link.com
Uk.asus.com
Tp-link.com
Launch date
Jan 14
Jul 14
Jan 14
Jan 14
Dec 13
Standards supported
802.11b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n/ac
802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency modes
2.4GHz/5GHz (concurrent)
2.4GHz/5GHz (concurrent)
2.4GHz/5GHz (concurrent)
2.4GHz/5GHz (concurrent)
2.4GHz/5GHz (concurrent)
Antennae
6x internal
3x3 MIMO
3x external, 3x internal
3x external, 3x internal
3x external, 3x internal
128bit/256bit WEP
Modem/Parental Control
Firewall
NAT/SPI
NAT/SPI
NAT/SPI
NAT/SPI
NAT/SPI
Ports
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Not tested
Overall rating
98x168x98mm, 945g
245x174x45mm, 476g
32.5x243x160mm, 508g
160x83x220mm, 640g
Warranty
1 year
5 year
3 years
2 years
1 year
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/MFDLLSC
TINYURL.COM/MUAFBHP
TINYURL.COM/KKJMPCE
TINYURL.COM/K4ZATKV
TINYURL.COM/MUXCBNM
22/08/2014 10:12
Top 5 charts
Synology DS413j
Qnap TS-421
Synology DS1813+
Asustor AS-604T
WD My Cloud EX2
Price
Website
Synology.com
Qnap.com
Synology.com
Asustor.com
Wdc.com
Launch date
Oct 13
Mar 14
Jan 14
May 14
Jul 14
Drive bays
Processor
1.2GHz Processor
Memory
512MB DDR3
1GB DDR3
2GB DDR3
1GB DDR3
512MB DDR3
Remote access
eSATA
USB port
2x USB 2.0
2x USB 3.0
Raid options
0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
0/1/JBOD
Software
DSM 4.1
Backup Station
DSM 4.3
Downloadable My Cloud
Dimensions
184x168x230mm
177x180x235mm
175x340x233mm
230x170x185mm
99x155x171mm
Weight
2kg
3kg
5.2kg
3.5kg
2.3kg
Warranty
2 years
2 years
3 years
2 years
2 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/PL8XM8S
TINYURL.COM/MCYWUB8
TINYURL.COM/PWO4M6J
TINYURL.COM/NX5QO8M
TINYURL.COM/LTCNFEX
NAS drives
Overall rating
USB drives
G-Technology Professional
G-Technology Thunderbolt
Price
80 inc VAT
Website
G-technology.com
Wdc.com/en
Lacie.com/uk
G-technology.com
Toshiba.co.uk
Launch date
Sep 13
Aug 14
Feb 14
Aug 12
Nov 13
Capacity tested
4TB
4- to 8TB
1TB
8TB
2TB
Capacity range
2TB to 4TB
2- to 4TB
512GB to 2TB
4TB to 8TB
320GB to 2TB
Disk size
3.5in
2.5in
2.5in
3.5in
2.5in
Spin speed
7200rpm
7200rpm
5400rpm
7200rpm
5400rpm
Transfer speed
N/A
230MB/s
635MB/s
329MB/s
Encryption
None
None
None
None
None
Other interfaces
FireWire 800
None
None
None
None
Software
None
None
None
None
Dimensions
235x130x46mm
88x143x44mm
40x140x85mm
235x130x85mm
119x79x21mm
Weight
1.35kg
700g
650g
2.3kg
215g
Warranty
3 years
3 years
1 year
3 years
1 year
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/NV7F32F
TINYURL.COM/QAGQEUG
TINYURL.COM//KRCL3VZ
TINYURL.COM/CXEF6MH
TINYURL.COM/LBHC8EL
Overall rating
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:12
Top 5 charts
Crucial M550
Crucial M500
Price
Website
Crucial.com/uk
Ocz.com
Crucial.com/uk
Samsung.com/uk
Seagate.com/gb
Launch date
May 14
May 14
Aug 13
Nov 13
May 14
Capacity tested
1TB
240GB
480GB
750GB
480GB
Price per GB
34p
55p
35p
48p
43p
Memory cache
1GB LP DDR2
512MB
512MB DDR3
1GB LPDDR2
N/A
Controller
Marvell 88SS9189
Marvell 88SS9187
Encryption
AES 256-bit
AES 256-bit
AES 256-bit
AES 256-bit
None
Flash
Bootable CD
R: 563MB/s; W: 514MB/s
R: 557MB/s; W: 534MB/s
R: 539MB/s; W: 433MB/s
R: 554MB/s; W: 537MB/s
R: 555MB/s; W: 474MB/s
100 / 91.7
92.9 / 94.7
89.8k (read)
104K (read)
96.8 / 88.6
30/99
25/97
N/A
N/A
28/78
Warranty
3 years
3 years
5 years
3 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/MSWD98Z
TINYURL.COM/KBED2W6
TINYURL.COM/M2NCSMJ
TINYURL.COM/L5EDQOY
TINYURL.COM/N58RB8G
SSDs
Overall rating
Projectors
BenQ W1300
Optoma W316
NEC M352WS
Optoma ML1500
Optoma HD30
Price
Website
Benq.co.uk
Optoma.co.uk
Nec-display-solutions.com
Optoma.co.uk
Optoma.co.uk
Launch date
Jun 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Jul 14
Jun 14
Projection technology
DLP
DLP
DLP
DLP
DLP
Resolution (pixels)
1920x1080
1280x800
1280x800
1280x800
1920x1080
Brightness, Contrast
2000, 10,000:1
3400, 15,000:1
3500, 10,000:1
1500, 15000:1
1600, 25,000:1
Image size
300in
300in
150in
100in
362in
16:10
Overall rating
33 (30 eco)
29db
30db
26db
Connections
HDMI, 2x USB-A, SD
2x VGA, 2x HDMI, 3D
Lamp/lamp life
240W/6000 hrs
190W/10000 hrs
278W/8000 hrs
LED/20,000 hrs
240W/6000 hrs
Dimensions
330x257x128mm
315x223x102mm
368x268x97mm
270x170x48mm
324x234x97mm
Weight
3.4kg
2.5kg
3.6kg
1.4kg
3.1kg
Warranty
3 years
2 years
3 years
2 years
3 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/K4FA89Q
TINYURL.COM/OCWTHGW
TINYURL.COM/Q6J2N6W
TINYURL.COM/QBFRYR7
TINYURL.COM/K4FA89Q
22/08/2014 10:13
Top 5 charts
Sub-150
graphics cards
MSI HD 7770
MSI R7 260X OC
Price
66 inc VAT
90 inc VAT
Website
Uk.msi.com
Uk.msi.com
Uk.msi.com
Xfxforce.com
Uk.gigabyte.com
Launch date
Jul 14
Sep 12
May 14
Jul 14
May 14
Graphics processor
Installed RAM
2GB GDDR5
1GB GDDR5
2GB GDDR5
2GB GDDR5
2GB GDDR5
Memory interface
256-bit
128-bit
128-bit
256-bit
128-bit
Core clock/Boost
900MHz/975MHz
1GHz/none
1175MHz/none
900MHz/925MHz
1033MHz/1111MHz
1125MHz/4.5GHz
1625MHz/6.5GHz
1.4GHz/5.6GHz
1.35GHz/5.4GHz
Overall rating
1280
640
896
Varies
640
Texture units
80
40
56
64
40
Power connectors
1x 6-pin
1x 6-pin
1x 6-pin
1x 6-pin
N/A
DirectX
11.2
11.1
11.1
11
11.2
Digital interface
2x DVI, HDMI, DP
2x DVI, 2x HDMI
Warranty
3 years
3 years
3 years
2 years
3 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/MCE7353
TINYURL.COM/BWJ7BL9
TINYURL.COM/OZ6WUYT
TINYURL.COM/LV69BEM
TINYURL.COM/Q7K4ESV
151+
graphics cards
Price
Website
Uk.gigabyte.com
Sapphiretech.com
Xfxforce.com
Uk.msi.com
Uk.msi.com
Launch date
Aug 13
Mar 14
Apr 14
Dec 13
May 14
Graphics processor
Installed RAM
2GB GDDR5
3GB GDDR5
4GB GDDR5
2GB GDDR5
8GB GDDR5
Memory interface
256-bit
384-bit
512-bit
256-bit
2x 512-bit
Core clock/boost
1137MHz/1189MHz
950MHz/1070MHz
1GHz/1GHz
1030MHz/1120MHz
1018MHz/N/A
1.55GHz/6.2GHz
1.25GHz/5GHz
1.4GHz/5.6GHz
1.25GHz/5GHz
Overall rating
1536
2048
2816
1280
2x 2816
Texture units
128
128
176
80
2x 176
Power connectors
1x 6-pin, 1x 8-pin
2x 8-pin
8-pin, 6-pin
2x 6-pin
2x 8-pin
DirectX
11
11
11
11
11
Digital interface
DVI, 4x Mini-DP
Warranty
3 years
2 years
3 years
2 years
3 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/OAG6277
TINYURL.COM/OWVAP37
TINYURL.COM/NPET8ER
TINYURL.COM/OYA2DFJ
TINYURL.COM/POTAOGZ
TEST CENTRE
22/08/2014 10:13
Top 5 charts
Sub-200
flat-panel
displays
AOC i2369Vm
BenQ GW2760HS
Philips 234E5QHAW
BenQ EW2740L
Price
Website
Aoc-europe.com/en
Benq.co.uk
Philips.co.uk
Nec-display-solutions.com
Benq.co.uk
Launch date
Jul 14
Dec 13
Jul 14
Jun 14
Aug 14
Screen size
23in
27in
23in
23.8in
27in
Panel type
IPS matt
A-MCA
IPS matt
IPS matt
VA semi-matt
Native resolution
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 (82ppi)
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
Pixel density
96ppi
82ppi
96ppi
93ppi
82ppi
Brightness
220cd/m2
300cd/m2
187cd/m2
250cd/m2
300cd/m2
630:1
950:1
210:1
650:1
280:1
Response time
6ms
4ms
5ms
6ms
4ms
Ports
2x HDMI, VGA
Dimensions
531x204x398mm
472x191x623mm
532x213x414mm
558x214x380-490mm
623x191x451mm
Weight
3.75kg
4.5kg
3.5kg
6.3kg
4.2kg
Warranty
3 years
2 years
2 years
3 years
2 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/OOEFYPR
TINYURL.COM/NF3WVFY
TINYURL.COM/KLYLW4V
TINYURL.COM/KNCGVOU
TINYURL.COM/OO6EC5L
Overall rating
201+
flat-panel
displays
BenQ BL2411
AOC Q2963PM
ViewSonic VP2772
Price
Website
Benq.co.uk
Asus.com/uk
Aoc-europe.com/en
Dell.co.uk
Viewsoniceurope.com/uk
Launch date
Apr 14
Jul 14
Mar 14
Jun 14
Jun 14
Screen size
24in
27in
29in
31.5in
27in
Panel type
IPS
IPS matt
AH-IPS
IGZO
AH-IPS
Native resolution
1920x1200 (94ppi)
2560x1440
2560x1080 (96ppi)
3840x2160 pixels
2560x1440 pixels
Pixel density
94ppi
108ppi
96ppi
140ppi
109ppi
Brightness
300cd/m2
350cd/m2
240cd/m2
350cd/m2
350cd/m2
650:1
640:1
530:1
550:1
560:1
Response time
5ms
6ms
5ms
8ms
6ms
Ports
HDMI, DP, Mini-DP, 4x USB 3.0 HDMI, DVI, Mini-DP, 4x USB 3.0
Dimensions
366x555x236mm
641x560x240mm
714x214x388mm
750x214x483-572mm
643x348x470mm
Weight
6.7kg
10kg
6.9kg
9.2kg
8.5kg
Warranty
3 years
3 years
3 years
3 years
3 years
FULL REVIEW
TINYURL.COM/PMV5L5V
TINYURL.COM/NR8RDQ6
TINYURL.COM/NXDAGMK
TINYURL.COM/O4CTO3S
TINYURL.COM/LLQRWTX
Overall rating
22/08/2014 10:13
OUTBOX
MARTYN
CASSERLY
Schoolyard antics
A
In a short space
of time weve gone
from a spat over
how round a phones
corner should be
to everyone living
together in the Big
Brother house
27/08/2014 17:14
02/09/2014 12:40
u2868Pqu
Innovative height
adjust stand
(130mm)
and pivot
Without HD
With HD
PRODUCT DETAILS
Inputs: D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI, USB 2x 2.0 and 2x 3.0, DisplayPort
Upto 1 ms GtG
3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
Special Features: PIP (Picture in Picture), PBP (Picture by Picture), -5/24 Tilt,
Swivel, Pivot, 130 mm height adjust
300 cd/m
www.aoc-europe.com
Digital
mag
218.indd 138
AD.indd
138
28/07/2014
01/07/2014 09:54
16:49